By Daily Press staff
Despite this year’s near-record rainfall in the southwestern United States, it turns out that the rain fell in the wrong place.
City Hall is encouraging residents in May to cut waste in recognition of “Water Awareness Month,” because all the watersheds relied upon by several major metropolitan areas — Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix — experienced significantly lower than normal levels of rainfall and snow pack. The Colorado River is below its average, and northern California water supplies — Santa Monica’s primary source — also are lower than normal this year, officials said.
The entire region is under increasing pressure to promote water-efficiency and conservation measures, city officials say. Despite City Hall’s goal to cut water waste 20 percent by 2010, local usage is up. Daily water use is more than 13 million gallons per day, significantly higher than expected for a city that is 8.3 square miles, officials say. Reaching the 20 percent target will require cutting use to 10 million gallons per day.
In an effort to reach the goal, City Hall is offering residents and businesses several incentive programs, including rebates that range from $50 to $2,000 for water-efficient fixtures. Competitive grant funding up to $20,000 for installation of California-friendly landscapes also is available. And there are a number of water-saving steps that can be implemented at home or office without significant cost, including using a professional car wash that recycles water and checking for and fixing leaks from faucets, showers, toilets and sprinkler systems.
The forces of supply and demand will impose ever-increasing pressures on water resources as a result of forecasted residential, business and tourism growth in the years ahead, officials say. Currently, an individual Santa Monica residents’ water use averages 144 gallons a day for things like showering, toilet flushing, laundry, irrigating gardens and car washing. To help people visualize how much water an individual consumes and how much can be saved, 363 bottles of water — the equivalent of 144 gallons — will be on display in the lobby of City Hall throughout May. Madison Project receives grant for new theater
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 21, 2005. Read the original PDF.