This story was reported for San Diego News Network on April 3, 2009.
The county’s 18 incorporated cities, along with the rest of the state, are hitting troubled waters or perhaps, just trouble.
On Feb. 20, 2009, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared that California was in its third consecutive drought year and announced an executive order for residents to ration their water. Various water districts throughout the county, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, who provide water to different authorities, will soon issue steps that will need to be taken to ensure the well doesn’t run completely dry.
Until then, the following is a breakdown of what each sector of San Diego County is doing or plans to do:
Central San Diego
The city of San Diego, which is home to about 1.4 million people, has hosted various workshops in the past months. Although the Water Authority has not officially announced the necessary allocations, San Diego officials are certain that their residents will cut back on water by at least 20 percent on July 1. They will determine the allocation for each household or business by averaging the amount spent during fiscal years 2005 to 2007.
“We have created the plan because the state water agency and our water wholesalers have informed us that water supply conditions are tenuous and they are likely to reduce the city’s allocation by mid-year,” Sanders said during a March press conference.
Across the bridge lies the attractive tourist destination, Coronado. Mayor Casey Tanaka said they have not yet determined how much water Coronado islanders will need to ration and plan to discuss so at an April 21 city council meeting. Scott Huth, director of public services director, did say, however, that the city has already taken measures with its residents to reduce water.
“The city has converted its irrigation system to a fully automated ‘smart’ controller system which measures evapo-transpiration as an indication of the need for irrigation,” Huth said. “The city has installed low-flow toilets and flow restrictors on showers in all newly-constructed buildings and, where feasible, in existing buildings.”
East County
The Helix Water District, which serves La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, parts of Santee and unincorporated areas of the county, will require East County residents to reduce water consumption by 20 percent. The district hopes the rate increase and a number of new restrictions will curb water use, and allow the region to weather the storm.
“Ultimately, we’re looking at a Level-2 water shortage, and we’re asking residents to cut back water use by 20 percent, and that is a mandatory reduction,” said Kate Breece, the public affairs officer for the Helix Water District. “We’re going to do this by increasing rates, and by offering more education to consumers.”
According to Breece, residents will be asked to water lawns on certain days, and will be sent letters asking them to repair leaks and cut back on water use. A water conservation hotline is set up, and resident are encouraged to report violations of the mandatory reduction. Fines may be issued if residents do not follow guidelines or repair leaks when asked.
HWD will host a public hearing to approve new water rates on May 27 at 2 p.m.
South Bay
The second largest city in the county, Chula Vista, stated that they have also enacted water conservation measures with their residents. Along with the Otay Mesa District and the Sweetwater Authority, they have promoted incentive programs to residents who install water-efficient irrigation systems and have also distributed conservation information cards to locals.
National City boasts the county’s “only desalination plant,” according to Mayor Ron Morrison. The mayor, who also serves on the board of the SA and the SDCWA, said it will be tough for his residents to reduce their water usage because they already use less per capita than other cities.
“We are already using the bare minimum but we are still looking to where we can cut back,” Morrison said.
He added that the city will look to cut back water in city buildings, schools and if needed, cut charity car washes or other water-filled activities. Morrison also said they will offer incentives to locals who install artificial turf or water-friendly-irrigation systems.
North Coast
Carlsbad Municipal Water District, which supplies water to the majority of Carlsbad residents, issued a water ordinance in December of 2008. In its ordinance, CMWD has asked residents to reduce water from “inefficient landscape irrigation, such as runoff, low head drainage, or overspray.” They have also asked residents to wash vehicles using a bucket of water, serve water in restaurants only when requested and use recycled or non-potable water for construction purposes.
Like CMWD, San Dieguito Water District for Encinitas and the cities of Oceanside and Del Mar issued similar water conservation requests. This includes the unplugging of ornamental fountains, leaving sprinklers on for no more than 10 minutes and installing water-efficient devices.
North Inland
The city of Poway, which passed a water conservation ordinance last December, held two workshops on drought management in March. Both workshops outlined a set of proposals and water rate changes in detail. Final action on the rate change must be preceded by 45-day notice and public hearings mandated under Proposition 218. Another workshop is planned in April.
In the City of Escondido, they have not only asked for water conservation but offered financial incentives. Homeowners who switch to high-efficiency toilets or clothes washers, use weather-based irrigation controllers or rotate their nozzles can “save-a-buck,” as the city calls their program.
The city of San Marcos has requested residents to save water. But Dan Weinheimer, of the city manager’s office, said it will take “appropriate action” when the Vallecitos Water District asks the city to do so. Until then, the city and VWD have installed “drought-tolerant gardens” at Heritage Park and Jack’s Pond Park.
Like San Marcos, the Vista Irrigation District is waiting for a necessary mandate before ordering residents to reduce their intake of water. Brett Hodgkiss of VID’s administrative services department said the city would “take progressive measures to reduce the amount of water used.”
In a March 12 press conference, Timothy Brick, chairman of The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, said the ongoing drought has caused a financial shortfall in the state.
“The state’s agricultural community alone has lost 40,000 jobs due to these severe water supply conditions caused by drought and environmental regulations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. To date, agriculture has experienced a $300 million economic loss that may reach $3 billion total by the end of 2009,” he said.
The MWD will announce on April 14 or 15 the necessary water allocations for the county.
Officials in the cities of Imperial Beach and Solana Beach did not respond to request for information.
San Diego News Network East County editor Joey Pena and SDNN contributing writer Vincent N. Rossi contributed to this report. Hoa Quach is the SDNN political editor.