Santa Rosans lead Sonoma County in water conservation

Santa Rosa residents posted the highest rate of water conservation in April among eight cities and water districts in Sonoma County, and they also had the lowest rate of personal water consumption per day, according to a State Water Resources Control Board report Tuesday.

Santa Rosans used 32 percent less water in April compared to the same month of 2013, the year that serves as a baseline for determining water savings since emergency water conservation regulations were established last year.

The city, which serves a population of 170,974, posted average personal water use of 56.3 gallons per day in April, the report said. That’s just marginally higher than the 55 gallon mark, considered the “performance standard” for indoor-only residential water use.

Only 26 water suppliers serving about 1.9 million people reported total water use -indoors and outdoors - less than 55 gallons in April.

Landscape watering accounts for an average of half and as much as 80 percent of urban water use, the water board said.

Jennifer Burke, Santa Rosa’s deputy director of water and engineering services, said residents have been making more calls to the city’s water-use efficiency hotline at 543-3985 and showing greater interest in rebates for lawn replacement, graywater and rainwater systems and appliance replacement.

Residents who are watering their lawns are encouraged to do so in short periods, with pauses between periods, a procedure aimed at ensuring water soaks into the soil rather than running off, Burke said. Santa Rosa restricts lawn irrigation to night-time hours, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., but does not limit the number of days per week.

“We’re very grateful,” she said. “We continue to ask our community to eliminate water waste and they’re doing it.”

Close behind Santa Rosa was the Valley of the Moon Water District, which serves 23,478 people, with a 30 percent water savings in April, along with average personal use of 59.2 gallons per day.

Residents in eight local cities and water districts used less water than the 91-gallon per day statewide average in April, which was up from 83 gallons in March. Sonoma residents used the most water in April, more than 120 gallons per day, in a city with a warmer inland climate and more large residential lots than most areas, two factors that increase residential water consumption.

The state’s lowest personal use was 32 gallons per day in April and the highest was 427 gallons.

Overall, Californians used 13.5 percent less water in April, compared with the same month of 2013. A mandatory 25 percent water savings takes effect statewide this month, the water board said.

“I’m sort of feeling local communities are stepping it up in a way they haven’t before,” water board chairwoman Felicia Marcus said at Tuesday’s meeting.

Officials warned, however, that summer will pose a test, as outdoor irrigation increases with the temperature. Residents were urged to curb lawn sprinkling and to check for leaks in irrigation systems, swimming pools and indoor water systems.

“If we miss the summer we’re toast on this,” Marcus said.

You can reach Staff Writer Guy Kovner at 521-5457 or guy.kovner@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @guykovner.