As any observant resident knows, the city always encourages
customers to conserve water. The city relies entirely on
groundwater for its drinking water supplies and there is only so
much groundwater to go around.
As any observant resident knows, the city always encourages customers to conserve water. The city relies entirely on groundwater for its drinking water supplies and there is only so much groundwater to go around.
Besides, saving water saves energy which is also in limited supply. We thank the many customers who have diligently saved water over the years.
This summer, however, our water supplies are critically low and our interest in saving water is not just for environmental reasons – it’s for public safety reasons, too. There is a very real possibility that we will not be able to maintain sufficient storage capacity for fire suppression unless we get our water customers to conserve. While we have begun lining up the cooperation of many local businesses, individual consumers also can play a big role in meeting this challenge.
What we are asking all customers to do is to minimize their use of water during times when city water supplies are running critically low. When this occurs, we will post a prominent message on the city’s website, post messages on the Channel 17 bulletin board, and will even notify you by e-mail if you so desire. Here are the types of things you can do:
• Reduce irrigation times by 50 percent or more. Since most residential water use during the summer is associated with irrigation, this is the number one thing you can do.
• Delay hosing down patios, power-washing and other water-consuming activities.
• Shorten your showers and make attempts to be extra efficient with all of your indoor uses of water.
Please take a look around your home and identify the measures you can take to save water when your community needs you to. If you would like to sign up for e-mail notification when water supplies are critically low, please send an e-mail to me at en*****@************ca.gov and we will put you on our list of “Water Heroes.”
The city has what we consider a short term problem with supplying adequate amounts of water during peak summer demand. The primary factor causing this problem is the well-publicized perchlorate contamination which has forced the city to shut down three of its water wells. Together, these wells account for 13 percent of the total supply capacity.
To improve the situation, the city is pursuing the siting and construction of a new water well, adding storage capacity with a new reservoir, incorporating perchlorate removal systems on one or more of the wells, and cutting back on watering at parks throughout the city.
Eco-Fact of the Week: The average home uses about 350 gallons of water per day. Typically, 50 to 70 percent of home water is used outdoors for watering lawns and gardens.
Eco-Web Page of the Week: Visit http://www.valleywater.org/Water/Water_conservation/In_the_home/index.shtm for some great tips on water conservation.
Anthony Eulo is a program administrator for the city of Morgan Hill who has a water-conserving landscape at home. He welcomes your questions, comments and thoughts and can be reached at en*****@************ca.gov or 779-7247.
