In response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s executive order to reduce water usage by 25 percent statewide, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, City Council President and La Jolla representative Sherri Lightner and City Councilmember Lorie Zapf April 8 announced a series of actions by the City to reduce water usage and promote conservation. “In the wake of Gov. Brown’s mandates,” Faulkner said, “these actions will help limit water waste and offer incentives for San Diegans to conserve. San Diego has been a statewide leader, cutting water use by double-digit numbers since 2007 – the last time our state faced a severe water crisis. But the past four years of unrelenting drought and record heat are moving California into uncharted territory. I’m confident we can lead by example once again, because wasting water is never an option.” Actions by the city include: Directing the City’s Public Utilities Department to strengthen enforcement of water waste regulations; Reviewing options to reduce outdoor irrigation at parks, city government’s largest water consumer; Restarting the Turf Replacement Rebate Program to encourage residents to invest in replacing their water inefficient turf with native and/or drought tolerant landscaping; and Halting the use of potable water to irrigate turf landscaped medians throughout the city. To help meet the governor’s water reduction mandate, Faulconer has directed the Public Utilities Department to begin issuing formal warnings and fines for water waste violations. No one will receive a fine without first receiving a written warning. San Diegans are encouraged to use the “Waste No Water” app on their smartphones to help report and stop water waste. Go to the app store on your iPhone or Android device and search for “Waste No Water” to download the app. “San Diego needs to consider multiple solutions to reduce our water usage and ensure a lasting water supply; no one solution is the answer,” Lightner said. “Water is too important to our economy and quality of life to not pursue all options to secure an affordable and reliable water supply in the face of this continuing drought.” One of City government’s biggest water uses is park irrigation. Mayor Faulconer has directed the Park & Recreation Department to identify specific measures to reduce potable water use. Staff is currently reviewing options, including: Cutting back or eliminating watering in small and passive parks; Reducing potable water use at City golf courses; and Evaluating existing landscaping for possible replacement when appropriate. Specific actions to reduce water use in City parks will be announced in the coming weeks. The following mandatory measures have been in effect in San Diego since Nov. 1: Watering only during three assigned days per week; limiting the use of fire hydrants to fire fighting, construction, health and safety; using hose with a shutoff nozzle or timer for irrigation; using decorative fountains only for maintenance; and serving water in restaurants only at a customer’s request.
