Santa Clara County, Calif., residents and businesses used 35% less water in June 2015 than they did in June 2013, according to the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors set the 30% target in March, based on local conditions—how much groundwater that was left after the “winter season” and how much imported and local reservoir water the county has to replenish it. They also called for a limit on watering landscapes to no more than two days per week.
Local water providers, both public and private, also adopted the two-day-a-week watering limit, with a schedule that allows those with odd-numbered street addresses to water on Mondays and Thursdays and those with even-numbered addresses to water Tuesdays and Fridays. This limit, as well as increased media attention and public outreach, is helping the county continue on the positive trajectory.
At a news conference, water district officials, as well as elected officials and staff from cities and water providers around the county, thanked residents and businesses for their hard work in cutting back on their water usage, and urged them to continue, especially during these warm summer months.
“I want to say thank you to everyone who is doing their part. We are all in this together, and your efforts to save water will help our whole community, said water district director Richard P. Santos. “I also want to thank our local water providers, each of our cities and the county, who have worked with us to spread the message of conservation and achieve this impressive number.”
Source: Santa Clara Valley Water District
