Local News

SANTA CLARA (CBS 5/KCBS/BCN) ― In a unanimous vote Thursday afternoon, the Santa Clara Valley Water District called for 15 percent mandatory reduction in water use.

"That's the only way to get people's attention, unfortunately," board member Richard Santos said as the group wrapped up a two-hour discussion and prepared to vote.

Heavy rains in February and early March were not enough to reverse three years of drought in the region, district deputy operating officer Keith Whitman told board members Tuesday morning. As of March 16, San Jose has received 11 inches of rain, 90 percent of the average, according to a water district memo.

Reservoirs in Santa Clara County are at 65 percent of capacity, according to water district staff. Half the county's water supply comes from outside sources, so local improvements don't necessarily solve the region's problems.

The district does not have the authority to enforce these restrictions; it acts as a wholesaler to the 13 local water retailers in Santa Clara County, including San Jose Water Co., California Water Service Company, and municipal water departments in Santa Clara, Morgan Hill, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Mountain View and Gilroy.

Now water retailers and the county's 15 cities and towns must translate this vote into specific actions, like watering the lawn only on specific days, or increasing water rates if customers use more than a set amount. The district is asking municipalities to pass ordinances containing these types of measures.

Several water retailers were on hand to tell board members they would prefer a voluntary approach, but would do whatever is necessary to comply with the mandatory measures.

Tony Eulo, program administrator for the city of Morgan Hill, said measuring how much water is actually being conserved is challenging.

"There's this big thing called the weather that impacts how much water people use," he told the board. "Not to say we don't have every intention of giving it our all."

Eulo said Morgan Hill has already developed an ordinance that will come to the City Council April 1.

The measure will cost the district an estimated $10 million in lost water revenues. The district will also spend $2 million to launch a public information campaign on the restrictions.

George Belhumeur of San Jose Water Co. echoed the preference for voluntary programs, but said a 15 percent restriction is preferable to the 20 percent number discussed earlier this year. He noted that San Jose Water Co. uses the same amount of water it did 20 years ago, despite an 80,000-person population increase.

Setting a baseline to measure water use will be difficult, Belhumeur said. If restrictions use pre-voluntary conservation numbers from 2007, he estimated one-third of the utility's 230,000 customers will request some kind of adjustment for circumstances like new landscaping or additional children.
A vote to impose fines for high water usage would add more expense and hassle to this process, Belhumeur said.

Such a measure is "an expensive jump and very onerous to manage," he said. "Education is the way to get results as opposed to draconian penalties."

San Jose is currently updating an ordinance created for drought measures in 1987. Cheryl Wessling in the city environmental services department said the City Council's Transportation and Environment Committee will discuss the ordinance May 4. It should arrive at the full City Council for discussion in mid-May.

The prior ordinance contained common-sense restrictions on activities like hosing down paved surfaces, or watering lawns during daylight, Wessling said. The city is working with adjacent municipalities to develop similar guidelines, Wessling said, to ease administrative headaches for water retailers.

While the last ordinance did contain fines, Wessling said it is not yet clear whether they will be part of 2009 restrictions.

Cutbacks may not be as drastic as the 15 percent number suggests. The district implemented voluntary water conservation efforts in 2007, and overall use has decreased 7 percent since then, Whitman said. In essence, the restrictions would add another 8 percent to these levels for a total of 15 percent.

"We're almost halfway there," Whitman said.

Board chair Sig Sanchez said a mandatory rationing effort in 1991
resulted in a 25 percent drop in water usage.

In their discussion, board members were clear they don't expect this measure to solve the region's water shortage. Board member Patrick Kwok noted that the majority of water consumption occurs outdoors, and said he would like to see restrictions focus on watering lawns and other yard issues.
Wilson suggested the district develop landscaping ordinances to make sure all new construction projects hew to water conservation measures.

The water district is offering programs and rebates to help residents and businesses save water and money. For more information visit www.valleywater.org or call (408) 265-2600.

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