Californians May Face 'Unprecedented' Full Watering Ban Due To Drought Crisis

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Topline

In what would be Southern California’s most drastic water conservation effort yet, the region’s Metropolitan Water District (MWD) announced Wednesday it may ban outdoor watering completely in some parts of the area by September if the state’s record-breaking drought conditions continue to worsen, following an order Tuesday lowering the allotted watering time to one day a week for about six million California residents.

Key Facts

If conditions do not improve and water use in the state is not reduced, MWD general manager Adel Hagekhalil said Wednesday the supplier could implement “unprecedented measures” by banning all outdoor watering by September in cities in several of the region’s counties—including Los Angeles County, the state’s largest.

On Tuesday, the MWD—the state’s regional wholesaler of water and the largest treated water supplier in the country—announced a water shortage emergency and adopted new restrictions for dozens of cities in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties, lowering outdoor watering allowance to one day a week for about six million people beginning June 1.

The restrictions also apply to businesses such as golf courses, as well as public land such as parks, though individual member agencies from each city can elect to alter the restrictions as long as water use is reduced to around 80 gallons of water per person per day, Rebecca Kimitch, a spokesperson for the MWD, told Forbes.

Violators of the watering restriction will face a penalty of up to $2,000 per acre-foot, according to Kimitch, though tree-watering is exempt from the restriction.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/californians-may-face-unprecedented-full-watering-ban-due-to-drought-crisis/ar-AAWFT87

[TallMike]

1. Being a long time

California resident. It is beyond me why this hasn't been in place for decades.
I am extremely lucky. I have a 48 foot hand dug well in my basement that has only gone dry 1x in some 30 odd years. Family has some 700 acres of gold country range land with 8 or 10 mine shafts full of water. 3 springs, grandfathered miners inch rights (you would have to know to know...) etc. You cant drink most of the water. but you could feed a few thousand people from it. there are 5 deep wells with freaking beautiful drinking water as well.
we still don't water lawns. "victory gardens" yes. defensible space, yes. bloody great storage tanks for fire suppression yes. But lawns, car washing, laundry without a full load, showering everyday only allowed if you've been working hard and legitimately stinky.
For those who don't know. Water is the future. Nothing else matters in the end.
Find water. If not for you. For your grandchildren. Now or never...
Rant over. TY and apologies.
M

[NullTuples]

4. Just so you're aware, counties are already starting to meter wells.

The one I'm most aware of is Sonoma, probably because they're planning on using the underground aquifer for storage of winter rains by pumping water into it. Once they do that, it's their water and nobody can be allowed to just take it for free. It's been a long time coming though and we all have to share.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

2. I like to think of my state as a potential

Independent nation, but the water situation is only going to get worse. Leadership in this area is desperately needed, and hoping for a good snowfall in the Sierras just doesn’t hack it anymore.
We need more water reclamation, water recycling. We need to reduce evaporation in our aqueducts and reservoirs. We need desalination. With tons of potential for solar and wind maybe we could export electricity in trade for water from our neighbors to the north. We have to get a handle on this…it’s not going to get better.

[3Hotdogs]

3. Why are they waiting 'till September?

[NullTuples]

5. Because water districts are reluctant to plan ahead.