PWD’s board of directors unanimously voted this week to enact the initial phase of the WSCP to ensure that there continues to be enough supply for nearly 117,000 people who depend daily on PWD to provide water. Effective immediately, customers are urged to use 15% less water at their homes and businesses.
“It is important that each and every one of us do our part and cut back at least 15% of our daily water use,” said Board Director Vincent Dino. “We’ve had two consecutive dry winters, and we need to protect the water supply. Let’s make sure we use less water outdoors and be aware of how long we run the tap.”
As part of Stage 1 of the WSCP, PWD will increase conservation outreach, enforce water-waste rules, alert high water users, emphasize rebate programs that can help customers, and consider implementing a drought factor. The drought factor would reduce the outdoor water allocation (Tier 2 and above) to match the 15% reduction goal. The Tier 1 water allocation, which provides each resident with 55 gallons per person per day, would not be affected.
PWD took the first step in implementing the WSCP nearly a week after the governor declared northern California counties in a drought and noted that other counties would be added if drought-like conditions worsened. Conservation is even more critical this year due to the
increased usage from people who are staying home because of the pandemic. Customers can reach the 15% by returning to their pre-pandemic water use habits.
According to PWD Resource and Analytics Director Peter Thompson Jr., it is estimated that 22,200 acre-feet of water will be needed to meet demands and for evaporative losses in 2021. Supplies from PWD’s three water sources – State Water Project, Littlerock Reservoir and
groundwater wells – are expected to meet this year’s needs. If conservation hits 15%, it will generate water that could be saved for next year.
“If we can have our customers conserve water now, there will be more water to provide us a buffer for 2022,” Thompson said. “We want to make sure that we keep a supply in reserve in case next year is also dry.”
For more information about PWD, visit www.palmdalewater.org.
[Information via news release from Palmdale Water District.]
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Alfred Cushman says
No water is why this is called the High Desert, wake up people
ACE says
TOO BAD THE CITY OF PALMDALE’S LITTLEROCK RESERVOIR IS DRY AND CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR CAMPING…
ACE says
HOW’S THE WORK GOING ON DREDGING LITTLEROCK RESERVOIR..?
AVE THE WATER FOLKS STOPPED DREDGING THERE..?
LOOKS TO ME LIKE THE DAM COULD BE RAISED AND ENLARGED…
LOCKED UP AND DRY LIKE IT IS SERVES NO ONE…
LOTS OF FAMILIES USED TO CAMP AND SWIM THERE…
SIGH…
ANNON says
Will, they cut our water bills in exchange? or some other type of rewarding incentive? I mean, my water bill has gone up 400% since moving here less than 13 years ago. And it’s not because of my use, it’s because of their continuous rising rates.
Joe Sage says
We should all thank the board of directors for those frequent rate increases. The board has increased both pay and benefits to those golden employees. Unions control this water board and has for much of time these rate increases have been implemented. Highest water rates in the AV goes to the Palmdale Water District.
Les Carter says
Don’t forget those Palmdale Water District board of directors are also the highest paid in the AV. Union thugs in bed with Rex is bad for Palmdale.