By Catherine J.K. Sandoval, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission
The imperative of saving water and energy is highlighted by this year’s wildfires that scorched parts of Northern, Central, and Southern California; low water levels in reservoirs; the light snowpack’s early thaw that melted water that’s usually available in late summer; uncertainty over how long water held in underground storage has to last; heat spells; and signs of climate change.
A drought threatens California’s economy and the safety of its residents. Due to the drought emergency, Governor Brown has called on all Californians to prevent water waste and reduce water use by 20 percent.
Energy Upgrade California™ provides resources, tips, and information to help Californians conserve water and reduce energy usage. Water and its treatment, movement, extraction, and heating in homes and businesses use nearly one-fifth of the energy consumed in California. Some steps to save water and energy include:
- Installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators;
- Taking shorter showers (five minutes or less);
- Running washing machines and dishwashers with full loads using only cold water;
- Identifying and promptly repairing leaks (60 drips per minute from a leaky faucet wastes more than 3,153 gallons per year);
- Taking a class on drought tolerant landscaping offered free by many water agencies. Outdoor watering accounts for most of the water California households consume.
The energy sector is one of the largest users of water, as water is used for cooling and energy production. As such, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is examining the water-energy nexus. The CPUC is working to identify best practices for water use and management, including using communications-connected sensors to measure and manage water and energy use, and facilitate cost-effective measures that save water and energy. Actions that households can take to save energy and also save water include:
- Closing the curtains to shield your home from the sun’s heat;
- Unplugging cell phone chargers when phones are charged;
- Using smart power strips for products that go into standby mode such as printers, DVD players, computers, and plasma TVs to avoid drawing power even when you’re not using the product;
- Turning off your computer at night to use 50 percent less energy than the computer’s “sleep mode,” which is activated when the computer is not in use but remains ready, all day and night;
- Installing energy efficient lights and appliances to embed energy savings.
Californians can visit EnergyUpgradeCA.org or follow Energy Upgrade California™ on Facebook and Twitter to learn about energy and water management, find rebates on energy efficient appliances, and more.
Your local water agency or utilities may provide discounted or free low-flow showerheads, aerators, or other water-saving devices. Visit SaveOurH2O.org for more ideas on how to save water, and drought.ca.gov to learn more about steps California is taking to manage water resources and mitigate the drought’s consequences for our economy and public safety.
By taking steps to reduce water and energy consumption, together we can weather the drought, forestall climate change, protect our people and economy, and keep California golden.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The AV Times.
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Gia Motti says
I lived in Santa Barbara as a kid, and in the 1970’s, there was water rationing! I’m not kidding. One of our neighbors was considered arrogant for watering his lawn once a week to keep it green. He got a $3,000 water bill. That was 1974. From then on, we’ve been a water-respecting family. The habits are ingrained, that you couldn’t possibly get another 20% out of me. Unless you want me to starve, or be enslaved….Hmmmm ~ Using our destitute situation against us is one of the hallmarks of slavery. Especially if they create the destitution.
Since Louisiana gets soaked all year long, they could trade with us for some of the crops we grow. Why aren’t the people with the authority doing something like this? I lived in Louisiana for 6.5 yrs – There’s no drought there, believe me.
And why are the desal plants and water reclamation projects languishing? Just how greedy are they to have let this languish so long? And don’t tell me those chem trials in the sky, which are followed by weeks and weeks of sunshine, and not a drop of rain, aren’t involved in making this a crisis. It’s a game of greed, people, and the residents are losing badly.
I’d say it’s time to clean house in Sacramento. Why wait for an election? That gives them too much time to brainwash everyone, too much distance from the clear and present danger they are, with the crises they engender to make a profit, and the supposed election, where they fool us into thinking our vote actually counts. It seems that almost never do the right people actually get elected, let alone stay alive, once they are elected.
KE says
Early 1900s LA stole water from this region, China Town film was about true events. If AV people keep watering, aren’t we actually taking our resource back from L.A. right out of the pipes and returning it to our own ground water supply here? Is that possible?
Does anyone know if there is a separate aquifer underneath Lancaster-Palmdale to what is under Los Angeles? If so, I wonder if we shouldn’t all start watering as much as possible to get water into our ground water supply, get it back from L.A.?
Is that what my neighbors are doing when they run sprinklers in the middle of the night? I’m just wondering.
The drought is going to wreak havoc on California’s population in coming years unless we do something about it. Water reclamation, desalinization, these are all options but I bet we end up with water wars instead, as that’s the Amerrrrican way today, pull out weapons and fight to the finish.
Will there be an battle between Lancaster and Los Angeles over water in the future? Maybe Lancaster can trade some of its solar electricity for water?
This is serious. This is scary.
I’d pack up and move to the Great Lakes but then I might get flooded. What to do what to do.
kay ebeling, lancaster
Jean Cook says
How about some relief for those of us that supposedly live in a flood zone. I live in what they say is a 100 year flood zone. Have been here 20 years. Where is the flood?? I pay $1,446. a year for flood insurance that I have to carry or no mortgage. Plus my house insurance And no, I did not have to purchase it when I bought this house. That came along after I had already lived her for 5 years. I do my share also to conserve, but come on, my trees are dying and I never had a lawn.
But, But, But says
So what happens when we stop watering our lawns? Then code enforcement comes along because we have weeds and no grass and levies a fine.
mimi says
That’s the same exact thing i was thinking. So do we keep watering our lawns or leave it to dry make up your mind A.V!!
Eric says
Hmm, and how about those of us who have been efficient with our water from the start? I’ve had the low-flow appliances forever; I’ve never showered for more than 5 minutes (benefit of a military career) and in addition have stopped shaving (extra water) as frequently. My lawn is dead, and I’m likely ripping out the sprinkler system this weekend. Every pipe in my house is in tip shape, properly tightened and sealed.
There isn’t 20% left in my water usage to cut! Maybe it is time to just stop showering and flushing all together huh?
AV-Just ask why? says
You’re not the problem. Articles like this are directed at those people who are aiming for the Darwin award as it relates to their chances for long-term survival. You know who they are-the people who cant’ make that connection between rainfall, population, water usage, extreme heat, snowpack, and all that other common-sense stuff that your average 3 year-old can understand. Drive down the street and find the guy with 2 sprinkler heads on his half-dead lawn and 4 heads pointing into the street-that guy.
William says
You beat me to it.
I’ve had a front-loading washer since 1990.
I spent $700 in the 90s to install a recirculating hot water pump and line from my water heater and a second line to run upstairs to my bathroom sink and shower. I calculated that it had taken 2 minutes for hot water to reach the shower head @ 2.5 gallons/minute low flow showerhead. 5 gallons wasted just to begin a shower.
I have low flow shower heads and faucets and replaced 2 of 3 toilets with 1.6 gallon ones that aren’t always successful, in you know what I mean. They are top of the line Kohler too.
I’ve let my lawn go dormant every winter since the 90s.
I’m sick and tired of all the emphasis and burden placed on residents.
It’s time for our elected officials to address the 80% of water used by agriculture. That’s where the savings are. Maybe we shouldn’t grow almonds and rice for starters.
Even if everyone tore out their lawns and went low flow everything, you can’t get 20% total savings from only the 20% that residents use. Do the math, Sacramento, and tell the lobbiests to pound sand.
William says
You beat me to it.
I’ve had a front-loading washer since 1990.
I spent $700 in the 90s to install a recirculating hot water pump and line from my water heater and a second line to run upstairs to my bathroom sink and shower. I calculated that it had taken 2 minutes for hot water to reach the shower head @ 2.5 gallons/minute low flow showerhead. 5 gallons wasted just to begin a shower.
I have low flow shower heads and faucets and replaced 2 of 3 toilets with 1.6 gallon ones that aren’t always successful, in you know what I mean. They are top of the line Kohler too.
I’ve let my lawn go dormant every winter since the 90s.
I’m sick and tired of all the emphasis and burden placed on residents.
It’s time for our elected officials to address the 80% of water used by agriculture. That’s where the savings are. Maybe we shouldn’t grow almonds and rice for starters.
Even if everyone tore out their lawns and went low flow everything, you can’t get 20% total savings from only the 20% that residents use. Do the math, Sacramento, and tell the lobbiests to pound sand.
25 says
This desert has always been dry and barren. Scince I was a kid I remember my dad used to ALWAYS tell me that we were in a drought. Just dont *waste* water. Plain and simple.
William says
I’ve done what I can to save water since 1990 when I bought this house in Palmdale.
It’s time for farmers to quit growing water intensive crops in California and not place all the burden on the residents.