In the late spring of 2008, it was officially decided that California was in a drought. Cyber-Rain’s old friend, the Governator himself, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, relayed this news in June. Earlier this month, the County of Los Angeles enacted a new water use ordinance to deal with the drought, a condition many Californians are only too familiar with. According to a report put out by the Office of the City Attorney, by Rockard J. Delgadillo, and made available for online public viewing by the LA Department of Water and Power, the new restrictions within the ordinance are designed to make sure that
“the water resources available to the City be put to the maximum beneficial use to the extent to which they are capable, and that the waste or unreasonable use or unreasonable method of use of water be prevented…”
The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, was quoted by the LA Times as predicting that “L.A.’s future depends on our citizens to adopt an ethic of conservation.” The LA Department of Water and Power has some helpful tips on how to conserve water and obey the new law of the local land. One such tip, which may save tens of gallons of water per day, is to:
“Install a new ‘smart’ sprinkler controller that applies just the right amount of water for your landscape based on your plants and garden, and local weather conditions.”
The Calleguas Municipal Water District of Southern California also recommends upgrading to “smart irrigation controllers,” which can save an estimated 40 gallons of water per day! Bewaterwise.com, a site presented by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California, has a number of useful tips, both which will help to follow the new water ordinance, and which are generally helpful during a water crunch. One such tool available is a watering percentage index, just one tool to help guide efforts to conserve water. The LA DWP and Calleguas sites are challenging consumers to save water, and sharing tips on how to do exactly that. Numerous Los Angeles city-affiliated organizations and websites have listed “smart” sprinkler controllers as an innovative and environmentally-friendly new way to tackle a familiar problem.
Trying to conserve a precious resource