CALmatters reported this week that Californians used 2.6 percent more water this January compared to before the drought emergency was declared, a sign that urban residents are ignoring the state’s pleas to continue to take the drought seriously and to cut back.
This jump in water use comes in the wake of the second-driest January on record, the news outlet reported, as the Sierra Nevada snow pack continues to decrease and another dry summer and fire season looms. Moreover, new data detailing urban water use statewide shows that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s repeated pleas for a 15 percent voluntary cutback in water use are failing to reach people in cities and towns, even though Newsom has stopped short of issuing a mandatory order. We are not sure it isn’t time more draconian measures are implemented. Some experts say a statewide mandate is critical to keeping enough water in storage to survive a drought likely to last several years.
As reported by this newspaper, The Board of Supervisors Tuesday heard updates on 2022 drought conditions where Deputy Water Resources Director Marina Deligiannis gave an update on the current severe drought conditions for the Lake County community. She said it is the third consecutive year the county will face such conditions with precipitation levels being way below average.
The board will also be revising their cannabis ordinance soon and we hope they tackle the issue of water usage by cannabis grows and start thinking more about any damages done to the local ecosystems and other environmental impacts that may have been overlooked in our regions’ zeal to get cannabis revenues to prop up needed services such as hiring of staff in law enforcement and code enforcement, to name just two.
Calmatters also reported that the only regions that slightly reduced water consumption were the San Francisco Bay area which used 1.4 percent less, and the southern San Joaquin Valley which used 0.2 percent less. We need to follow the example of our neighbors in the Bay area and in the southern part of our state and continue to conserve as much water as possible.
Traveling around the County completing assignments, our reporters, contributors and staffers continue to hear people talking about, and acting as though, the drought is over, which the data shows it is most definitely not. We urge residents not to be lulled into a false sense of security by the few scattered storms we experienced this winter season.
The new state data shared by Calmatters only includes water districts, not rural irrigation districts that serve farms. We think more education on water and drought related issues need to take place when people continue to be confused about water use. We have heard people ask: “Why should I cut back my water usage when I see the golf courses and private properties wasting so much, not conserving at all?” Except that golf courses and other facilities use primarily recycled water and thus, do not contribute to any local water waste. Moreover, most is not treated for drinking, it’s good enough for grass, but not drinking.
Some ways residents can conserve water include limiting outdoor water use, taking shorter showers and only running the washing machine/dishwasher when full.
For more water conservation tips, please visit saveourwater.com
—The Editorial Board, Lake County Record-Bee
