The record hot, dry June and continued dry weather into July has increased our water demand.  The water supply is normal, but all our pumps are going non-stop to keep up with high demand, leaving us no cushion capacity if a well unexpectedly goes out of service or an urgent, unpredictable need arises, like a large fire.  We all need to start taking some more active steps to make sure we have the capacity to deal with emergencies through the rest of this summer:

City: We’re cutting back our water use by about 50%, letting less used areas of parks go brown.  We’re making choices about where we need water and where we can do without.

Industrial/Businesses: We’re reaching out to the large property owners, asking them to cut back on landscape irrigation just like we are. If you’re a local business, please encourage your landlord that you’re fine with a drier look to help save water.

Residential: Like the City, please find trade-offs to cut your own watering by about 50%.  For many, that means letting grass go brown to save flowers and shrubs.  If you really can’t do that, please try watering your lawn no more than every-other day.  Here are a few more small things you can do to add up and help get your own household to a 50% reduction:

• Always water everything at night.  Watering while the sun is up just loses a significant portion of the water to evaporation, leaving your plants still thirsty.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Recycle water from things like dog bowls, kiddie pools and baths (if you must) to water plants.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.
• Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when you have full loads.
• Sweep driveways and sidewalks instead of spraying them down.