Los Angeles County Water Waterworks District 29, which services Malibu, held its State of the District address last week Wednesday at city hall.
Residents at the public meeting were informed about the district’s conservation rebate programs and recently completed maintenance work. They were encouraged to purchase, install and maintain products that conserve water in their homes, yards and businesses.
After record-breaking low levels of rainfall in 2007 and 2008, water stored in reservoirs throughout the state have been depleted, and are still threatened, the district states on its Web site.
A court order limiting the amount of water pumped from the Sacramento Delta to protect endangered species of fish has further reduced water supplies to Southern California. In February last year, Gov. Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency due to drought.
In April 2009, West Basin Municipal Water District, a wholesale water supplier, announced that it would reduce the amount of water it provides to District 29 by 15 percent.
“This means that all district customers will only be able to use a specified amount of water or face substantial surcharges,” Melinda Barrett, water conservation manager for the District, said in a written statement. “Those who are already using less than average will be well served, but those who continue to use large amounts of water will have the wholesaler’s charges passed through on their water bill.”
The average Southern California family uses approximately 500 gallons of water every day, according to the district. Watering the yard, filling the swimming pool or hot tub; and other outdoor water needs consume about 70 percent of the water used in a typical single-family home.
Landscaping with native or drought tolerant plants that use less water can cut outdoor water use in half.
The Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts launched a public information campaign in July last year to educate residents about steps they can take to save water.
Since 70 to 80 percent of residential water is used outdoors, the “Make Every Drop Count” campaign focused on three easy things residents can do to stop wasting water outdoors: adjusting their sprinklers, fixing leaks and planting native vegetation.
All customers of the Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts are now also eligible for rebates on a variety of water-saving devices. Rebates of $150 are being offered for high efficiency clothes washers, high efficiency and dual flush toilets, weather-based sprinkler controllers, commercial waterless or low water urinals and synthetic turf. A $50 rebate is also being offered for customers who implement drip irrigation.
In maintenance work, the Trancas Canyon Cross Country Water Main and Regulating Station Replacement were recently completed.
This project consisted of installing approximately 540 feet of a new 12-inch-diameter steel water main in the Trancas Canyon area, between Morning View Drive and Paseo Canyon Road to replace an existing, cross-country water main in the same area.
The project also included the replacement of a 500-foot segment of a four-inch-diameter water main on Pacific Coast Highway with a 12-inch diameter steel water main, and relocation of a pressure regulating station to improve the water service in the area.