If you’ve been hearing more about the ongoing drought lately, there’s good reason. After calls for voluntary conservation did not produce enough water savings, last week the state issued a new requirement that all water agencies implement additional conservation measures.
- Here in the San Diego region, we have invested billions of dollars over the past 30 years in new, locally controlled and drought proof water supplies like recycled water and desalination.
- As a result, we are not as vulnerable to the effects of drought as other parts of the state.
- However, with our climate and the extremely dry conditions statewide, conserving water is always the right thing to do.
Next week, the City Council (which also serves as the board of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District) will consider implementing additional water conservation actions outlined in our drought contingency plan. Some of the additional conservation measures will be familiar to those who lived in Carlsbad during the last round of mandatory water cutbacks almost 10 years ago, such as:
- Limit watering to three days a week, except those using recycled water like golf courses and HOAs.
- Limit irrigation systems to 10 minutes each, unless the system already uses water saving features like a drip system.
- Repair leaks within 72 hours of being notified.
The full list will be shared next week, based on the City Council’s decision Tuesday. The changes wouldn’t go into effect until June 10 and would still be considered voluntary, although the state has indicated that will change if conservation goals aren’t met.
Only about 85% of Carlsbad residents live in the Carlsbad Municipal Water District service area. Those who live in the east may be part of the Vallecitos district, which passed its updated rules June 1, and those in the south are part of Olivenhain Municipal Water District.
More information
Water conservation tips and information
State Water Board water conservation emergency regulation
