find water-saving tips, latest local drought news online
SANTA CRUZ, CA – The City of Santa Cruz, which is 100 percent dependent on local rainfall for its water supply, has created a drought-specific webpage to help city residents and businesses reduce water consumption during the ongoing drought.
The site, www.cityofsantacruz.com/drought, includes information about current water conditions in the City of Santa Cruz, updated water restrictions and tips to conserve water. The site also features a water use calculator, a map monitoring drought conditions statewide and information about rebates available for toilet and washing machine replacement.
The drought webpage is one part of the City’s effort to promote and support water conservation. On Tuesday, the Santa Cruz City Council approved resolution declaring a state of drought in the City. The resolution also calls on all residential, commercial and irrigation users to support Governor Brown’s call to immediately and voluntarily take necessary steps to reduce water use by 20 percent, until such a time that the City’s Water Director determines that either a drought no longer exists or that additional savings are needed.
Last year marked the second year in the row of below-normal rainfall and runoff for the City of Santa Cruz. The City is one of a handful of agencies in California that took early action by adopting Stage 1 mandatory water restrictions of 5 percent in both 2012 and 2013. The 2013 restrictions were extended beyond the automatic expiration of October 31 and remain active. During Stage 1 water restrictions, customers are asked not to irrigate between 10am and 5pm, to use a shut-off nozzle on hoses at all times, to not hose down driveways or sidewalks, to serve water in restaurants only upon request and to provide hotel guests the option of not laundering linens daily.
The City itself has employed a number of methods in recent weeks to further reduce its water use as an institution. In addition to observing all Stage 1 water restrictions, the City has:
- Stopped watering the lawn at City Hall.
- Substantially cut back irrigation in city parks, including shutting off irrigation completely in several locations.
- Replaced turf in areas with drought-tolerant plants or wood chips, with City parks employees mulching many areas that received irrigation in the past.
- Discontinued the annual practice of flushing water lines.
- Curtailed the washing of city vehicles unless absolutely necessary.
Specific changes also have been made at city-owned DeLaveaga Golf Course:
- Installed new automated irrigation software to provide accurate info on moisture content of soil and turf, allowing for precise irrigation practices.
- Removed turf and turned off irrigation around the clubhouse and other facilities.
- Switched to cleaning equipment using air compressors, rather than water.
- Capturing unused water from restaurant customers to use for plant watering.
There are many simple changes Santa Cruz city residents and business owners can make to aid in the conservation effort, and the Santa Cruz Water Department can help:
- A Water Conservation staff member can come to your home free of charge to check plumbing for leaks, evaluate your landscaping and irrigation, and provide recommendations to help you save water.
- Customers can receive water saving devices by visiting the Water Department Conservation Office.
- Rebates of $150 are available to help replace old toilets with new high efficiency toilets.
- Rebates of $100 are available to help upgrade your washing machine to a water-efficient Energy Star-rated model.
- Supported by a city subsidy, 50-gallon “Ivy” rain barrels are available for $30 each.
- Water-thirsty lawns can be replaced with an attractive, low-maintenance landscape. In addition to a lower utility bill, customers can receive 50 cents back per square foot of converted landscape, up to $500 for homes and $2,500 for businesses and multi-family housing.
- A free online database is available to learn about drought-tolerant landscapes and plants that reduce summer watering costs and are especially suited to Santa Cruz County, www.santacruz.watersavingplants.com. The information also is available as a free CD in the Water Conservation Office.
For more information, visit www.cityofsantacruz.com/drought and www.cityofsantacruz.com/water.