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A
CALL TO ACTION
South
County to Receive Almost 13 percent Less Water; Urge Your
Legislators to Support a Balanced California Water Portfolio
Letter
from Congressman Nunes urging swift action on California’s
water shortage
What
this means for SMWD
A Call to Action
Trust-based Conservation
Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) will begin
receiving almost 13 percent less water from its main supplier,
the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD),
beginning July 1st as a result of continuing water shortages due
to weather and regulatory conditions.
What
Does this Mean for SMWD?
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| What is
a balanced water portfolio?
Like in financial planning,
a balanced water portfolio
is a concept that relies on numerous sources
to lessen risks. This means that in difficult
water times – like we’re experiencing
now – local communities will have reliable
water supplies because they have more options.
It’s a simple
principle implemented locally by SMWD but
still needed on a state-wide level.
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First,
this reduction in deliveries does not mean we are running out
of water. However, it does mean that an urgent call to legislators
to develop a balanced California water portfolio
is necessary to ensure greater supply reliability.
The District has developed one of the most reliable
water systems in the County. SMWD relies on a series of
infrastructure projects, like storage reservoirs and
regional pipeline interconnections, and innovative systems, like
the Starr Ranch and Oso Barrier runoff diversion facilities, to
help ensure a reliable supply. The District also recently began
work on the 266-million gallon Upper Chiquita Reservoir, South
County’s largest domestic water reservoir.
These projects, coupled with sound conservation
from SMWD customers, have allowed the District to avoid mandatory
rationing or heavy-handed regulations in light of the supply reduction.
But
there is still work to be done in the region.
A
Call to Action
Today, in light of the MWD reductions,
SMWD calls on all ratepayers to contact local legislators to urge
a balanced water portfolio for California. Here are a few points
that our legislators need to hear about how we can diversify our
water portfolio:
- Achieving both environmental and water reliability
goals should become a part of California’s
future water reliability strategy.
- Dual conveyance – or more simply
put, two water delivery systems –
from Northern California is needed to achieve water reliability
and environmental goals for all of California, especially in south
Orange County where we are wholly dependent on imported water.
- Water delivery doesn’t mean much without adequate
local storage capacity. Any future plan to balance
California’s water portfolio must promote additional storage
for local communities.
- New sources of water, like utilizing
urban runoff, recycling water and even conservation, are vital
to water reliability and should be central to a water reliability
strategy.
- As part of achieving environmental goals, habitat
restoration in the Bay Delta ecosystem is critical.
Please
find a list of local legislators that you can reach below.
Of course, these are complex goals. But the Association
of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has prepared a more
in-depth review of these objectives for your reference.
| Legislator |
Contact
Information |
SMWD
Areas Served |
| Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger |
(916)
445-2841
Email
(make sure to select ‘water issues’) |
All |
| State
Senator Mimi Walters |
(916)
651-4033
Email |
Mission
Viejo, RSM, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Coto de Caza, Wagon Wheel |
| Assemblyman
Jeff Miller |
(916)
319-2071
Email |
Mission
Viejo, RSM, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Coto de Caza, Wagon Wheel |
| Assemblywoman
Diane Harkey |
(916)
319-2073
Email |
Talega
(San Clemente) |
Trust-based
Conservation
Conservation is also vital to a balanced and reliable water portfolio,
and SMWD customers are some of the County’s best at conserving
water. It’s because of this that the SMWD Board has opted
for a trust-based approach to encourage conservation, rather than
heavy-handed regulations, fines or penalties.
The District’s standing water conservation ordinance encourages
several important conservation steps, including:
- Only water yards and gardens at night
- Washing cars with shut-off nozzles or a bucket
- Fix leaks in your house
- Watch for and eliminate runoff from sprinklers
Conservation is more important than ever. And we look forward to
joining with the community to do our part to conserve supplies.
Learn
more tips at our Conservation page.
Feedback?
Please let us know
your thoughts, questions or comments regarding recent reductions
in deliveries or how to urge for a balanced California water portfolio.
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