Serving Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Oak Park and Westlake Village

By: Acorn Staff | November 11, 2021

Precious-the drip irrigation system sprayed water during a seminar held last month in the Triunfo Water and Sanitation District of Mae Boyar Park. Triunfo cooperates with Las Virgenes district. ROB VARELA/Acorn

Although the atmospheric rivers before Halloween dumped nearly 8 trillion gallons of rainwater in northern and central California, the reservoirs that supply water to the Las Virgenes municipal water district received relatively little rainfall.

The rainfall in the local community was less than 1 inch, and the water agency officials were worried.

As the state suffered from drought for the second year in a row, with below-average snow cover, record temperatures, and lower-than-expected runoff, the local water district has issued appeals to its 75,000 customers, telling them that they will have to take more measures. Less.

The Metropolitan Water District, which provides drinking water to communities in Southland, including Las Virgenes customers, amplified the alert and declared its own drought emergency on Tuesday.

Officials expect that the California Department of Water Resources will announce zero funding for state water resources projects at the beginning of next month, thereby deepening the local demand for water conservation. The water supply project and its California aqueduct transport most of the drinking water to Southern California. Local households and businesses rely 100% on water from the north.

How to save water—Ventura County Master Gardener's Lecturer Kevin Carlson (Kevin Carlson) launched a water-saving irrigation system, which was presented at a seminar held in Oak Park’s Mayboyer Park in October. Public display. Triunfo Water and Sanitation District, a partner of LVMWD, sponsored the event. ROB VARELA/Acorn

On November 2nd, the five-member LVMWD board of directors voted unanimously to declare a water emergency in Phase 3, which prompted the client's outdoor water budget to be reduced by 25%.

In a recent speech to the city council of the district service area, David Pederson, the general manager of LVMWD, has been calling for cuts to be spent and emphasized the terrible news:

.The main reservoir is far below the average level;

.The groundwater basin is being overdrawn; and

.Urban, agricultural and environmental uses are all affected, and water rights across the state are being restricted.

According to data from the United States Drought Monitoring Agency, as of October 19, 49 of the 58 counties in northern Los Angeles were experiencing the most severe or "abnormal" drought.

According to the National Weather Service, the rain that hit the area at the end of October landed on extremely dry soil, absorbing most of the rainwater, and only a small part of it was available for use.

Consistent with the findings of the drought monitoring agency, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a call on October 19 to double protection efforts across the state and expand drought emergencies, including in Los Angeles County.

The Las Virgenes area has taken measures to protect it, and the first phase of the water shortage warning was announced in June. In the following month, officials announced a Phase 2 water shortage warning and demanded a voluntary 15% reduction in water consumption.

On August 17, the Metropolitan Water District issued its own water supply alert, followed by a drought emergency statement on Tuesday.

LVMWD protection measures include: reducing outdoor water consumption by 25%; eliminating water waste; and urging customers to take advantage of available protection rebates and incentives, such as the installation of high-quality and efficient toilets, weather-based irrigation controllers, rain barrels and soil moisture sensor systems .

Leonard Polan, a board member of Las Virgenes, was not happy.

"I can't cut it anymore," he said. "I found this harsh measure to be an insult to me."

Poland has used less water than budgeted, and he is upset that the new measures will reduce his own low-water outdoor landscape projects.

In addition, many customers complain that although the amount of water they use has decreased, their bills are still rising as rates continue to rise.

Pedersen agrees that these measures may seem harsh, but he stated that the goal is to take it seriously in Phase 3 to avoid Phase 4. In Phase 4, all customers-including water savers like Poland-will Be more affected.

"This is the final stage of the worst case of shutting down all outdoor irrigation," Pedersen said.

Some mandatory protection measures are already in place, including:

. Irrigation will not be carried out between 10 am and 5 pm or within 48 hours after rain.

. Irrigation may not cause excessive runoff.

. It is forbidden to wash sidewalks and driveways.

In addition, hoses used to wash cars and houses need to trigger nozzles, and hotels and motels must allow guests staying more than one night to choose not to change towels and sheets every day. In addition, water can only be provided to restaurant customers on request.

For the most serious offenders, when water resources are wasted or when water consumption exceeds 150% of the customer's water budget, the area may install current limiting devices.

Other enforcement actions include door frames/warning letters and fines up to $500.

The school district also encourages anyone who believes they have found water wastage to make an anonymous report, including photos, to stopthewaste@lvmwd.com via email. You can also call (818) 251-2200 to report water waste.

Board member Jay Lewitt said that although saving money may not be a big motivation for many customers, when they realized that in stage 4, if all outdoor water was destroyed, the amount of money spent A large landscape of one hundred thousand dollars may be destroyed. cut.

Then there is the recreational use of water.

"In the fourth stage, we have to really think about swimming pools," Levitt said. "If we no longer have outdoor use, it means there is no swimming pool, which will really cost people a lot of money."

"The threat of stage 4 may be real," Levitt said. "I think this is a good way to motivate them to comply with the stage 3 alert."

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