Water Conservation A Way Of Life In California

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — Though California is out of immediate drought emergency — in April, Gov. Jerry Brown ended the drought state of emergency for the Golden State — residents are still wary of water overuse. For many southern Californians, water conservation has become ingrained in day to day life.

"This drought emergency is over, but the next drought could be around the corner," Brown said. "Conservation must remain a way of life."

Californians responded to the drought with tremendous levels of water conservation, including a nearly 25 percent average reduction in urban water use across the state, according to a statement released from the governor's office.

In homes across Orange County, residents have found different ways of saving water, such as mother Jenny Julander, a resident of Las Flores.

"We keep buckets in the shower," Julander said. "Our water takes forever to get hot, so we fill the buckets while the shower warms up and use them to water plants in the yard."

Julander has followed those "bucket brigade" water conservation practices for the past two years, and now it's just become a way of life. So much, that when she witnesses neighbors wasting water, she does something about it.

Seeing water waste in Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo and Las Flores is frustrating to the Julanders, who learned about the drought early and did their part to save water whenever and wherever possible. They are on the lookout for water waste in and around their south Orange County home.

"We have such limited resources," she said. "In our neighborhood, my husband and I always call our association to fix their broken sprinklers whenever we notice them."

Though the governor’s April 7 executive order directs the State Water Board to lift the specific conservation provisions of its drought emergency regulations, the temporary requirements will remain in effective until Nov. 25, when the emergency regulation expires.

Still, fear of drought is one of the top four fears, according to a survey by SaveOnEnergy.com.

The goals of Brown's Water Action Plan, making water conservation a way of life, include:

• Use water more wisely
• Eliminate water waste
• Strengthen local drought resilience
• Improve agricultural water use efficiency and drought planning

The current prohibitions against wasteful water use practices include outdoor watering during or within 48 hours after a rain event; hosing down a sidewalk instead of using a broom or a brush; and overwatering a landscape to the point that water is running off onto the sidewalk or into the gutter.

The long-term conservation framework, also released April 7, includes recommendations to establish permanent water conservation standards and improved agricultural and urban water management planning to better prepare for more frequent and severe droughts due to climate change. These actions will help achieve a top priority of the California Water Action Plan: to improve long-term drought preparedness and “Make Conservation a California Way of Life.”

As part of the framework, the governor released proposed legislation to establish long-term water conservation measures and improved planning for more frequent and severe droughts.

“Californians stepped up big time during the drought,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. “This plan allows us to build on that success and prepare for the longer and more frequent droughts we know are coming under climate change, in a way that is equitable and cost-effective. Efficiency is the cheapest and smartest way to extend our water resources.”

Having a small pond is one way to both celebrate water and the conservation needed to care for the precious resource.

For Julander, the tranquil sound of water along with the drought-tolerant landscape that surrounds it is a special reminder of why she goes the extra mile to save water whenever and wherever you can.