California's Water Supply Crisis

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    California’s Water Supply: In Crisis

    Water Reserve Levels

     September 1, 2009: The Burbank City Council approved a limit on landscape irrigation of no more than 3 days per week year-round. The allowable watering days are now Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The time limit is no more than 15 minutes per day per irrigation station. This is a necessary step to conserve water and we thank all Burbank residents and businesses for complying with this requirement. For more information, please read on or call BWP’s Conservation Services at 818-238-3730. Thank you!

    There is a very real water shortage in California, caused by:

     

    • A drought on the Colorado River in its 8th year
    • Limited local rainfall over the past couple of years
    • And, most importantly, a judicial order to curtail water pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to 50%-60% of normal levels

    As a result, the Metropolitan Water District’s (MWD) water supplies are limited. This impacts us as Burbank receives most of our water from MWD. The bottom line is that using water wisely is required every day from every one of us!

    BURBANK'S SUSTAINABLE WATER USE PRACTICES ORDINANCE

    It’s the law! As of July 2009, Burbank no longer allows the wasteful uses of water listed below. If everyone follows these requirements, we may be able to avoid more difficult water-saving measures.

    Burbank Residents: Illegal Uses of Water

    • Do not water outdoor landscaped areas on rainy days and at least two days after.
    • Do not water outdoor landscaped areas between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. unless you are watering by hand.
    • Adjust sprinklers and irrigation systems to eliminate overspray and avoid run-off into streets, sidewalks, parking lots, alleys, or other paved surfaces.
    • Do not hose or wash driveways, patios, sidewalks, or other hard or paved surfaces with a garden hose.
    • When washing vehicles, use a bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off device.
    • Leaks from plumbing fixtures and irrigation sprinkler systems must be repaired within seven days of discovering the leak.

    Burbank Businesses: Illegal Uses of Water

    • Do not serve drinking water, unless specifically requested by customers, in all restaurants, hotels, and other public places where food is sold.
    • Hotels and motels must provide customers the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily. Prominent display of this option is required for each bathroom.
    • Food preparation establishments, such as restaurants or cafes, are prohibited from using non-water conserving dish wash spray valves.

    To view the entire Sustainable Water Use Ordinance, click here.

    What to do if You Observe a Wasteful Water Practice

    People sometimes just need to be educated or reminded about wasteful water practices. If you notice a use of water that is wasteful here in Burbank, please feel free to bring it to our attention if you feel uncomfortable addressing the situation directly with the homeowner or business. Simply fill out this “Water Waste Observed” online form and we will send a letter to the address you specify.

    YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

    The amount of water consumed in Burbank is about 200 gallons a day per person . That’s a lot of water, but simple, thoughtful actions taken by each of us can dramatically reduce water use. We all need to cut back immediately so that we have more supplies to count on.

    Does cutting back mean I have to do without?

    No. While some people are really diligent about water conservation, most of us have a lot of room for improvement. For instance:

    • Do you leave the water running while you brush your teeth?
      • If so, you’re wasting 2 gallons every minute the water runs.
    • What about when you are washing dishes?
      • If you only run the water when you actually need to, you’ll save 2-1/2 gallons per minute.
    • How long is your shower?
      • Shaving off just two minutes from your shower saves 5 gallons of water.

    Small actions add up to big impacts. For many more tips on how to save water, please click here.

    DID YOU KNOW?

    Watering our Lawns and Gardens Uses the Most Water

    More than half of the water we use goes to watering lawns and gardens. Unfortunately, most of us over-water our lawns, often by as much as 50% and higher! This is an enormous opportunity. We can cut our total water consumption by over 25% with appropriate irrigation!

    So, what is “appropriate irrigation”? We asked the experts and received this rule of thumb: Water no more than 3 times weekly in warmer weather and just once weekly in cooler weather. Apply ½” of water each time you water, but do so slowly to allow the water to get down to the roots of your grass and plants.

     

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