State reports strong July water savings; Oakdale, Merced among top locals
California cities cut their water use by a combined 31 percent in July, exceeding the governor’s statewide mandate to conserve, officials said Thursday.
The strong water conservation figures show California residents are beginning to understand the dire need to cut back in a fourth year of drought, said Felicia Marcus, chairwoman of the State Water Resources Control Board.
Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a 25 percent overall reduction in urban water use effective June 1, with the reduction based on 2013 levels. The reduction is for potable water. The state has mandated varying reductions among cities based on their past water use. Modesto has to reduce its water use 36 percent, and other Northern San Joaquin Valley cities have to reduce their water use 28 percent to 36 percent.
Many Valley cities reported strong savings in July. For instance, Oakdale reduced its water use 43.3 percent, exceeding its mandated reduction of 32 percent, and Merced reduced its water use 44.3 percent, exceeding its 36 percent mandate. Other cities did not do as well. For example, Riverbank reduced it water use 21.3 percent, far less than its mandated reduction of 32 percent.
Modesto reduced its water use 32.4 percent in July, a few percentage points less than its 36 percent mandate. But the city has seen water use increase this month. Water Systems Manager Dave Savidge said water use is down 28.6 percent for the first 26 days of August. Modesto will report its August water use to the state after the month is over.
Savidge said in an email that city officials are concerned some water customers may not be reducing enough because they are counting on a strong El Niño weather system to bring lots of winter rain to California. Federal government forecasters have said a historic El Niño is shaping up but there is no guarantee it will bring a wet winter.
Savidge urged Modesto’s water customers to take advantage of the city’s drought programs, such as rebates for replacing toilets and washing machines and as much as $500 for replacing lawns with landscaping that uses little or no water. The city also is offering free water audits, which include checking sprinklers to ensure they are not overspraying. More information is available at 209-342-2246
Marcus said record rain in July played a role in the savings, causing people to leave their sprinklers idle. Enforcement and strong messaging by water agencies also were bigger factors, she said.
Regulators are turning their focus to communities failing to conserve, she said. They are making personal visits with local officials in cities that haven’t responded to the mandate by Brown.
Officials have not issued fines to underperforming water agencies, but they could be as high as $10,000 a day. Marcus said she favors other methods to achieve California’s goals. “I believe that peer pressure and the bully pulpit (are) going to be most effective,” she said.
Bee staff writer Kevin Valine and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
July water savings for area’s Valley cities
City – mandated reduction – actual reduction
Modesto – 36% – 32.4%
Riverbank – 32% – 21.3%
Merced – 36% – 44.3%
Ceres –28% – 26.6%
Livingston – 32% – 7%
Turlock – 32% – 35%
Patterson – 28% – 21.5%
Oakdale – 32% – 43.3%
Manteca – 32% – 30.8%
Source: State Water Resources Control Board
This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 3:21 PM with the headline "State reports strong July water savings; Oakdale, Merced among top locals."