News from the Santa Clara Valley Water District - January 2014
Greetings!
As you may have heard, Governor Brown has declared a drought emergency for all of California and called on Californians to reduce water use by 20 percent. The dry weather has been unprecedented, and we are ready to help you meet this collective goal to use water more efficiently.
Find out what's happening in Los Gatosfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Did you know that Americans use more water each day by flushing the toilet than they do by showering or any other personal activity? Furthermore, a running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day (Source: EPA). Check out our High-Efficiency Toilet (HET) rebate program along with four other rebates that the water district has available to help conserve water today. We also just launched a new program to incentivize the installation of a graywater system.
The drought declaration also highlights the importance of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) as it relates to having reliable water supply for all Californians. If you missed the BDCP board workshops, no need to worry. You can view all five of them below to learn about this critical and timely program to restore the Bay Delta ecosystem and ensure a reliable water supply at your convenience.
Find out what's happening in Los Gatosfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Along with information on the workshops, you'll find information on our newly appointed board leadership as well as lots of other news, program update and resources.
As always, we look forward to continuing to provide you with timely information and invite your feedback about water-related issues of importance to you and our county. Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Teresa Alvarado
Deputy Administrative Officer
For our latest assessment of trends in water supply and use for Santa Clara County, read our monthly "Water Tracker."
The Santa Clara Valley Water District has a long history of planning for water supply reliability. California's drought reminds us that the state's water supply is inter-connected. The nearly 2 million residents of Santa Clara County, like 23 million other Californians, are dependent on imported water from the Bay-Delta. For more information on water supply, click on the links below. Ongoing information can be found at www.valleywater.org under the "Quick Links" tab.
Jan. 28 board meeting on water supply outlook and contingency plans, click here >
Water levels continue to drop at Almaden Reservoir, click here >
Brown declares California drought emergency, click here >
District poised to help residents and businesses respond to drought emergency, click here >
District increases rebates and adds new programs
Using water wisely is vitally important for all residents and businesses, especially since there was very little rainfall in 2013.
That's why the district is continually looking to improve and enhance its water conservation programs, working with the community and stakeholders to make our programs easier to participate in and to discover and test new technologies. Recent and upcoming Water Conservation Program upgrades and improvements include:
- High-Efficiency Toilet (HET) Rebate Program
- High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate Program
- Graywater Rebate Program
- Submeter Rebate Program
- Water Conservation Research Grants
- Landscape Rebate Program
We are excited to launch a new $100 rebate program for installation of qualified "laundry to landscape" graywater systems (pre and post inspections are required). Graywater systems can save an estimated 17 gallons a day per person. For more information, please contact the district's Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 630-2554 or click here.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: Greenbuilding pioneer Roy Nordblom will be teaching a free GRAYWATER informational class to the general public at the Low Income Self Help Center on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014 at 7 p.m. at 525 W Alma Ave. in San José. Roy will be teaching a one hour class on how anyone can install an inexpensive laundry to landscape system that reuses their clothes washer water to irrigate part of their landscaping. Contact Roy at greenbuildingexpert@mail.com for further information and to sign up.
To get more information on these rebate and grant programs, click here >
VIDEO: Bay Delta Conservation Plan workshops
The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors invites you to view a series of board workshops to learn more about the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.
Below you will find recordings of all five meetings that were held from October 2013 through January 2014. You are invited to view them online by clicking on the links below:
- Topics covered:
- Governor's Water Action Plan
- Overview of the BDCP
- Statewide perspective on the benefits and costs of BDCP
- Topics covered:
- Perspective of in-Delta users
- Habitat restoration and conservation in the Delta
- Topics covered:
- Habitat restoration and conservation in the Delta
- State of Delta levees and levee stability
- Benefits and impacts to the Delta region
- Topics:
- Benefits to Santa Clara County
- Costs to Santa Clara County (water rates, property taxes)
- Topics:
- Implementation of large water supply infrastructure construction projects
- Bay Delta Conservation Plan facilities
Estremera, Schmidt elected chair and vice chair of water board
On Tuesday, Jan. 14 the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors unanimously elected Tony Estremera, District 6 representative, to serve as board chair in 2014. Brian Schmidt, representing District 7, was elected vice chair.
Board chair Estremera and vice chair Schmidt will ensure that the district continues with it's mission to provide Silicon Valley safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy.
Local businesses to receive preference in contracting
There is a high cost in doing business in Santa Clara County, and the district wants to help level the playing field for local businesses. The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors unanimously approved an ordinance to establish a local business preference in some types of procurement of goods and non-professional services. The preference will essentially give local businesses a 5 percent advantage over non-local businesses.
The new policy serves the public interest by encouraging businesses to locate and remain in the jurisdiction through the provision of a minimal good faith preference to local businesses.
Last Call: Order your FREE Calendar today
The district would like to tell you about all the exciting environmental stewardship projects and programs we do. This year, we're doing that in the form of an attractive calendar which we'd like you to enjoy as a special gift.
Place your order today for a FREE 2014 Stewardship Report Calendar while supplies last. Feel free to share this gift by forwarding this newsletter to all your friends and family.
CreaTiVe Awards Finalist - People Behind Your Water
CreaTV presented it's CreaTiVe awards on Saturday, Jan. 18 where the Santa Clara Valley Water District came in as a finalist under the CreaTV San José TV series category for its People Behind Your Water: Almaden Lake Island segment.
People Behind Your Water is a public education campaign aimed at increasing agency transparency and has a new episode every month.
To view the list of award recipients, click here >
To view the nominated segment of the People Behind Your Water: Almaden Lake Island, click here >
VIDEO: One Drop: Message of hope
Water is the most critical challenge facing the 21st century. Although it is essential to life, nearly 800 million people lack access to water while 2.5 billion are deprived of access to adequate sanitation. By 2025, 5.3 billion people, two-thirds of the world's population, could lack access to enough water to meet their basic daily requirements.
One Drop is a non-profit organization initiated by Cirque du Soleil Founder Guy Laliberté which strives to ensure that water is accessible to all, today and forever.
To watch a video on their message of hope, click here >
Check out the latest episode of "The People Behind Your Water" on both CreaTV Channel 30 or on YouTube.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District has been hosting a series of study sessions on the Bay Delta Plan (BDCP).
This month, watch a presentation by Chuck Bonham, Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, on the biological challenges and impacts of the BDCP.
VIDEO: Almaden Dam and Reservoir
Join us as we take a trip out to Almaden dam and reservoir and talk with Mark Merritt of the Water Supply Operations Planning and Analysis Unit.
With record low rainfalls last year, the water district is taking unusual measures to keep some water flowing out of Almaden reservoir into Alamitos Creek, an important habitat for steelhead trout.
Other links of note:
- KQED Quest: Water recycling comes of age in Silicon Valley
- How's our water supply? Check the monthly Water Tracker
- WATCH: "Protecting Your Future"
Board of Directors
Upcoming Board of Directors agenda items of interest:
(Board meeting agendas are subject to change. All meetings are webcast live and can be viewed later through our website. See our Board Meeting webpage here)
January 28
- Reducing Illegal Encampments and Homelessness
- Annual Water Operations Planning Process and Initial 2014 Water Supply Outlook
The mission of the district is to provide Silicon Valley safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy.
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