Council adopts goal of reducing water consumption by 20 percent

As California heads into the third year of drought, Santa Clara County cities are implementing water restrictions in an effort to conserve the resource. Gilroy has joined nearby cities in adopting a goal of reducing water consumption by at least 20 percent citywide.
City Council voted unanimously May 19 to direct staff to prepare an ordinance that would impose voluntary restrictions on when watering is permitted, and other measures recently adopted by the city of Morgan Hill and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
Other proposed measures include asking restaurants only serve drinking water upon request and requesting hotels give guests the option of turning down a daily change in linens. Council could also ban the washing of cars at home or a driveway, if the ordinance is adopted this summer.
“We have to do something to show people we are concerned about (the drought),” Mayor Don Gage said. “The people are aware. They look to the council and ask us what we are doing. I would hate to sit there and say ‘we’re not doing anything.’”
The staff report prepared by Operations Manager David Stubchaer and Public Works Director Rick Smelser includes proposed permanent restrictions that would apply citywide—regardless of the water supply.
“I don’t like the use of the word ‘permanent,’” Councilwoman Terri Aulman responded. “I think we should have a menu of items that fit the drought level that we’re in, but to say nobody can ever wash down their driveway or porch again doesn’t make good common sense to me.”
According to Stubchaer, water supplies across the county are better than in other areas. Local water consumption is checked monthly and is compared side-by-side with 2013 figures—the driest year on record in California. Since January, Gilroy has reduced its water consumption by 6.5 percent without implementing any restrictions.
But if Gilroy does not reach its goal of 20 percent water reduction by a yet undetermined date, city staff proposed increasing water rates based on usage—a concept not well received by a majority of the council.
Councilman Peter Leroe-Munoz asked staff to specify how tier rate increases could take a toll Gilroy’s agriculture industry. He also requested clarificaton which farmers need a certain amount of water to grow their crops of choice.
“It’s very difficult to just impose a percent reduction,” he said. “The needs of someone growing garlic are different from the needs of someone growing cherries.”
“I’m looking for more permanent changes,” said Councilman Peter Arellano. “We need to start looking at our water as a precious resource and planning for the future. The water demand in California is going up, and our water resource is going down. We’re headed for a crisis.”
City Council will review the voluntary restrictions some time next month, according to Gage, and those restrictions will give the council more flexibility if the water supply worsens this summer.
“When the ordinance comes to us, we’ll have an opportunity to decide how far we want to go. If we have to get stricter, the ordinance will allow us to do that,” Gage added. “We need to set the foundation.”