Blog Action Day is an opportunity for thousands of individual bloggers across the world to participate in a united effort. This year’s topic is the environment. Given that Rancho Santa Margarita and Southern California are faced with an impending water crisis, I thought it appropriate to write about water conservation methods and to encourage Rancho Santa Margarita residents to commit to working together now to help ensure that our future water supply remains sufficient.
Santa Margarita Water District meets the water needs of over 150,000 residence and businesses and is the second largest Water District in Orange County. SMWD purchases the majority of it’s water from the Metropolitan Water District who facilitates the transfer and distribution of water through it’s Diemer Treatment Plant in Yorba Linda. Our water comes from Northern California and the Colorado River. Unlike other areas, South Orange County does not have an underwater aquifer to tap into, and therefore relies entirely on water from sources outside of the region.
On October 9th the Orange County Register reported that the Metropolitan Water District requested that Orange County residents reduce water usage by 20 gallons per day. I thought that sounded like quite a bit of water, but in doing further research I am convinced that it is entirely possible to meet this goal by making a few minor changes. The website WaterWise shows eight simple steps that will allow you to conserve water in the amount requested by the Water District.
A 10% rate hike is already budgeted for 2009. Our two major water suppliers, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Colorado River, have already put Metropolitan Water District on notice that the amount of water available to the District will be significantly reduced. Metropolitan Water District will be forced to obtain water from other, more expensive sources to meet the existing demand. I challenge you to change your water usage habits now. If we work together we can make a difference.
