Conservation efforts remain vital
Davis, CA- The City of Davis recently announced that with the inclusion of Yolo County in Governor Newsom’s recent revised declaration of a drought emergency, it is essential that the community continue its water conservation measures that have been in place since the last drought.
With two dry years of precipitation and current forecasts predicting continued dry weather, the City will need to rely on groundwater supplies more heavily as surface water from the Sacramento River is more limited in summer months and extended dry periods.
Along with asking water customers to continue their ongoing water conservation efforts, the City is reminding customers that there are a number of mandatory water-use restrictions that have remained in place since the most recent drought emergency declared by the State from 2014-2017.
Some restrictions include
- No watering outdoors between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- No watering during periods of rain or for 48 hours after measurable rainfall
- No excessive water flow or runoff onto pavement, gutters or ditches
- No washing down paved surfaces unless for safety or sanitation
The full list of restrictions on water use can be found on the City’s webpage at www.SaveDavisWater.org – just click on “Drought Information and Water Use Restrictions” on the right side of the page.
Although the City’s water supplies (via a conjunctive-use system of surface water and groundwater) are stable, water conservation can help to reduce water demands citywide, and ensure that resources are being used as efficiently as possible. Water from the City’s deep aquifer wells is similar in hardness and other mineral levels to the surface water. Differences in hardness and other mineral levels between the surface water and groundwater wells may be noticeable at times but continues to meet all water quality requirements.
With multiple dry year conditions and the increased water demands over the spring and summer months for irrigation use, it is especially important that irrigation systems are checked thoroughly for leaks and other issues.
Faulty irrigation systems are a significant contributor to outdoor leaks, and functioning systems can be set incorrectly, leading to unnecessary water runoff.
4 steps below to check your sprinkler system
- Inspect: For spray irrigation, check that spray heads are not missing or cracked. For drip irrigation, look for cracks and holes in the drip line and for any missing or clogged emitters. A hole as small as the tip of a pen can waste 6,300 gallons of water per month.
- Connect: Check that all hoses and pipes are connected well.
- Direct: Check that water is staying on your landscape and not running onto paved surfaces.
- Select: Consider installing a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller.
If you are planning on adjusting outdoor irrigation, be sure to check what your landscape needs to thrive.
During the spring and summer months, don’t forget to deep water your trees as needed depending upon the age of your tree as young and mature trees have different watering needs. Learn more on the City’s urban forestry webpage.
If you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign-up for AquaHawk, the City’s customer water-use portal, to track daily and hourly water usage and to set customized usage alerts. Go to www.SaveDavisWater.org and click on the link for WaterUse Portal to learn more on how AquaHawk can help to find leaks in the irrigation system as well as other potential leaks in and around the property.