The State Water Board recently released data regarding a stress test intended to determine whether local water districts have enough water to withstand three more years of the ongoing California drought. In light of the positive submissions with eight out of every 10 water districts in the state saying they have enough water, the State decided to relax mandatory water use restrictions for those districts. This allows water districts to choose how to move forward with local water conservation efforts while still encouraging districts to continue to move towards greater efficiency and remain committed to water conservation.
This new twist has sent a bit of a mixed message to Californians, many of whom are now not quite sure how serious they need to be about restricting their water use as much as possible. Evidence of this can be seen in the 7% increase in water use in June 2016, which was the first month under the new, more relaxed regulations handed down from the State.
The reality is that we are now in our fifth year of drought and it does not look like our drought conditions will be changing any time soon. While most water districts across the state say they can meet the stress test of having enough water to make it through three more years of drought, there is no agency checking their data. The State Water Board made this clear in their August 16, 2016 press release where they noted, “the staff did not independently research or verify the accuracy of the submissions.”
The State Water Board also pointed out that districts that passed the stress test are still “expected to keep conserving water to build long-term drought resilience” and that these relaxed regulations do not mean that we do not need to conserve water. State Water Board Chair, Felicia Marcus, stated, “…Being prepared, however, is not a license to abandon conservation, because one thing we know is we can’t know what next year or the next will bring.”
California Drought: What Relaxed Regulations Mean for San Diego
One example of the changing regulations in regards to the California drought is the City of San Diego’s move to Level 1 Drought Use Restrictions. This level includes voluntary water conservation efforts that were once mandatory for all residents in the City of San Diego. For example, limiting landscape watering to no more than three days per week and using a hose with a shut-off nozzle are now voluntary measures but not mandatory. It is also now permissible for you to wash your car at home, but only before 10:00am or after 6:00pm.
There are still several permanent, mandatory water-use restrictions in place in San Diego, including:
Water leaks must be repaired within 72 hours
Potable water cannot be used for irrigation in a way that causes runoff
Swimming pools and spas cannot be overfilled
Fountains and other water features must use recirculated water
Potable water cannot be used for landscaping irrigation within 48 hours of measurable rainfall
Residential irrigation is only allowed before 10:00am or after 6:00pm
California Drought: What Does This Mean for You?
Many Californians see this recent development as a sign that the drought is improving and that we can all relax a bit and maybe let our kids run through the sprinklers in the middle of a hot day. Others are getting excited at the thought that their natural grass lawns might once again be lush and green now that we do not have to conserve as much water and they can irrigate their landscaping as often as they would like — now that watering no more than three days a week is a voluntary measure they do not have to follow.
While this may technically be true for those who live in districts that have relaxed mandatory water-use restrictions, the reality is that 2015 saw the lowest snowpack in 500 years, wells are still drying up and, other than what the State Water Board Chair refers to as a “modest reprieve”, the only real difference between now and a few months ago is that water districts are reporting that they have enough water to last a few more years in drought conditions.
Part of the problem is that we do not know how many more years this drought is going to last. Nor do we know when the next one will come. So even if the various districts’ unverified data is accurate and they really do have enough water to serve their customers for three more years, that might not be enough.
This means that the fact that the State has stepped back to let local water districts determine how best to manage water use moving forward does not mean that Californians can let up on our efforts to save water. While it does mean that your plants no longer have to suffer if you forgot to water them on your assigned watering day, it does not mean that we should go back to inefficient irrigation practices, such as frequent, shallow watering. And while San Diegans are now allowed to wash their cars at home, it is still best for them to go to a car wash that has a water reclamation system.
Unlike folks in other Southwestern states, Californians have never quite accepted that we live in a dry climate where water conservation really should be a way of life. Over the last few years, the California drought and subsequent water-use restrictions have helped many realize that it is the duty of all Californians to save water and pay attention to our water use. Unfortunately, not everyone is convinced, and the confusing message sent by the recent stepping back of the State makes it even more difficult to convince them.
The thing is, we should not need state-mandated regulations to force us to conserve water. We simply need to accept that we live in a climate that requires us to use our resources responsibly. Millions of people living in the Southwestern United States live perfectly happy lives without expansive, natural grass lawns or water features that waste thousands of gallons of water each year. This is especially true with so many attractive alternatives to water-hogging lawns and low-water landscaping ideas that add visual appeal without the waste.
With attractive choices like paving stone patios, composite decks, artificial grass and a seemingly endless variety of native plants that thrive with little water, there is no reason for Southern Californians to think they must make a choice between conserving water or having attractive outdoor living areas. Rather than looking longingly at your dry, brown, natural grass lawn and yearning for the day when the drought will be over and it can once again be lush and green, you can have a beautiful, welcoming yard right now.
Low-water landscaping is one of the best ways to combat the California drought and one of the best ways to stop fighting our local climate and learning to live in harmony with it. It is also the best way to ensure that your front yard and backyard are consistently attractive and functional, no matter how little rainfall we receive in a given year.
California Drought: Further Reading
If you are ready to transform your yard into a welcoming, water-saving retreat where you can spend time with family and entertain guests, here are some previous posts that may be of interest to you.
9 Water Conservation Apps for Your Home & Garden
Drought Landscape Design: Water Conservation Through Water-Saving Landscaping
Hate Gardening? Here are 4 Reasons Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Is Right for You
Privacy Hedges that Are Drought-Tolerant: 10 Options for Southern California
7 Drought-Tolerant Herbs for Southern California Gardens + Tips
8 Drought-Tolerant Plants to Line Your Driveway
10 Drought-Tolerant Trees for San Diego
10 Great Plants for Drought that Are not Succulents
Photo Credits: morgueFile, hotblack; morgueFile, Penywise
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