Conservation goals are consistent with state mandates
Concord – On Wednesday, June 3, the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) adopted its 2015 Drought Management Program. Key elements include a temporary conservation price adjustment, a new baseline to gauge conservation, and a fine to help enforce water use prohibitions. CCWD must meet the 28% conservation goal set by the state.
California is in a fourth year of drought conditions and statewide mandates are now in place. Under the regulations released by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), CCWD must achieve 28% water conservation overall compared to 2013 water use. In order to achieve this goal, CCWD’s Board has adopted a program requiring residential/commercial customers to reduce their use by 25% and dedicated irrigation (landscape) customers to reduce use by 45%.
CCWD customers have been doing a good job at conserving and need to keep those efforts up this summer. Consistent with the state mandates and as temperatures rise, CCWD is looking to customers to focus on reducing their outdoor water use this summer to achieve these mandates.
“The District does not know when this drought will end and conserving now keeps water in storage for the future,” said CCWD Board President, Joseph L. Campbell. He noted that “CCWD has many programs and resources to help residents meet their conservation goals.”
As approved by the Board following the public hearing, the Drought Management Program includes a temporary pricing adjustment on the unit cost of water, a fine for violations of the prohibitions, and adjusting the baseline to 2013 water use – all in compliance with the state regulations. The temporary pricing adjustment would only apply to households using over 200 gallons per day and would end once the emergency order is lifted.
Customers will receive individual letters detailing their conservation goals. For full details about the Drought Management Program and water-saving information, visit www.ccwater.com.
