Utility urges customers to turn off outdoor irrigation as California drought continues despite local rainfall and improved snowpack levels

NEWBURY PARK, Calif., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- California American Water is continuing the call for water conservation by urging all of its Thousand Oaks and Camarillo customers to turn off outdoor irrigation systems as rain storms are predicted to return to the region this weekend.  The oncoming storms will cut the need for outdoor watering.  Given the forecast, California American Water is asking customers to leave their sprinklers and other irrigation systems turned off for at least seven days after the rains end.

"The storms that passed over Southern California two weeks ago dumped more than six inches of rain in some areas.  With forecasters calling for more rain, there is no need to turn on our sprinklers for a week or more," said Todd Brown, California American Water's general manager.  "California American Water applauds our customers' efforts in heeding the call to limit their water usage.  I encourage all our Ventura County customers to refrain from turning their irrigation systems back on too early.  The ongoing drought and other challenges to our water supply remind us to use water wisely.  Keeping sprinkler systems off is smart for the environment and the pocketbook."

Even with the California Department of Water Resources reporting last week that the snowpack water content is 115 percent of normal statewide, significant long-term challenges still remain to improving reliability of Southern California's water supplies from the Bay-Delta.  The level of precipitation over the second half of the winter will have a major impact on determining final supply deliveries for the remainder of 2010.

"We welcome the news that the snowpack's water content thus far is above average.  However, regulatory restrictions are expected to continue to reduce water deliveries to Southern California for the foreseeable future," Brown said.  "The restrictions, coupled with the prolonged drought, have caused both our state and local reservoir levels to drop well below normal and limit the ability of water agencies to refill them."  Pumping restrictions to protect endangered fish species in the Sacramento Delta region have cut water deliveries from the State Water Project by as much as 30 percent, limiting the amount of water that can be stored during wet years.

California American Water has made it a priority to help its Ventura County customers reduce their water use by 15 percent and is committed to providing them with the necessary programs and resources to meet that goal.  Some simple suggestions to conserve water include:

• Water no more than two days a week during the winter months.
• Water before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. to prevent water evaporation.  
• Limit watering to 15 minutes outdoors each day per station.  Use a weather based controller to prevent overwatering during wet weather.
• Use a hose nozzle with a shut off valve while washing your vehicles.
• Turn off decorative water features unless they re-circulate water.
• Repair your leaks immediately.  This could save you hundreds of gallons of wasted water a month.  
• Avoid water waste by doing your best to limit water use while doing yard work.  Don't allow water to runoff onto sidewalks, driveways or gutters.  Use a broom instead of a hose to wash down paved surfaces.
• Pick up free water-saving shower heads, hose nozzles and faucet aerators at our local office.

California American Water offers rebates on water-saving appliances, free water wise surveys, leak detection kits for toilets and other conservation tools and ideas.  Customers can sign-up for these services by stopping by California American Water's local office located at 2439 West Hillcrest Drive, Newbury Park, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., or by calling 805-498-1266, ext. 7815.

California American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 600,000 people.  California American Water's Ventura service district includes approximately 20,000 households and businesses, thereby supplying water to approximately 60,000 people in the cities of Camarillo, Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company.  With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in 32 states and Ontario, Canada.  More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

SOURCE California American Water

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.amwater.com