Pledge to join the 20-gallon challenge!

Conservation has been a way of life in San Diego County for many years, but it’s especially important now. The San Diego County Water Authority and its 24 member agencies are asking residents and businesses to increase voluntary water conservation immediately to help save an additional 56,000 acre-feet of water in 2008.

Despite early winter rain and snow levels that were at or slightly above normal, our imported water supplies are still recovering from historic dry conditions. Many state reservoirs had to be drawn down significantly to cope with dry conditions across California in 2007, and the Colorado River basin will take many years to recover from eight years of drought. As of January 2008, the two biggest reservoirs along the river, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, were still hovering record-low levels.

In addition on August 2007, a federal judge ordered severe pumping restrictions that will reduce water deliveries from the State Water Project, the source for 40 percent of all water used in San Diego County last year. These restrictions went into effect in late December 2007. The combination of dry conditions and reduced water deliveries from the State Water Project next year make water supply shortages and mandatory water restrictions a very real possibility in 2008. It is essential for residents, businesses, and public agencies to increase conservation immediately.

The good news is, everyone can help the region conserve more water by joining the 20-Gallon Challenge. The 20-Gallon Challenge is a regionwide campaign to increase voluntary water conservation by 20 gallons per person, per day. Saving water now will help the region by allowing more water to stay in storage to meet demand next year.

Saving 20 gallons a day is easier than you might think. Some simple changes can make a big difference in your water use. Keep in mind that 60 percent of urban water use in San Diego is spent on landscape irrigation and other outdoor purposes, so make sure you think inside AND outside to maximize water savings.

The 20-Gallon Challenge is part of the San Diego County Water Authority’s Drought Management Plan.

In addition, the Water Authority has developed a Blueprint for Water Conservation in collaboration with its 24 member retail water agencies, along with business and community leaders. The Blueprint serves as a framework to plan and implement future conservation programs that can help the region achieve permanent, long-term water savings.

CONSERVATION TIPS FOR RESIDENTS
CONSERVATION TIPS FOR BUSINESSES

If your community group or organization would like to learn more about the 20-Gallon Challenge, water supply reliability, or other critical water issues affecting the San Diego region, visit our Speakers' Bureau web page or contact Teresa Penunuri, Community Relations Representative at tpenunuri@sdcwa.org to request a speaker. The Speakers' Bureau is a free service to the community.