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June 11, 2008
Water Supply Alert Issued for SoCal
One week after Gov. Schwarzenegger declared a statewide water drought, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California has issued a water supply alert to the 18 million people in the six counties it serves, which includes Los Angeles County. The alert is the second of three steps to impose water rationing.
“A ‘water supply alert’ does not mean less water being supplied; it means that the water being supplied is severely depleting reserves, and that if water use is not cut to help balance the use of reserves, the region will more likely be in a shortage and instituting rationing,” Bob Muir, an MWD spokesman, explained to the OC Register's Sciencedude blogger, Gary Robbins.
Record-dry conditions in the Colorado River and environmental protections for fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have added to the short supply of water. "The MWD is tapping into its groundwater storage to meet current water demands. Over the last two years, Metropolitan has used about half of its dry- year reserves," reports KNBC.
Photo by Mr. McGladdery via Flickr
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Well, shit.
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Living in downtown L.A. I've noticed that a lot of water gets wasted hosing down the sidewalks. Some buildings have their staff hosing the sidewalk every morning. Seems to me that maybe a broom every two days and a hose down the third day would be enough.
I've also noticed that there's usually no water rolling down the storm gutter when a building is using one of those high pressure sprayer machines.
Perhaps that should be a requirement.
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It is illegal to hose down a sidewalk. Has been for awhile and only now is starting to get enforced. But it's really hard to enforce, according to one Street Use Inspector I spoke to last year. Staffing is low and they have to witness it themselves.
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"Staffing is low and they have to witness it themselves."
Geeze, they need to ride around and take pictures between 6 and 7 am. They'd close the city budget gap in fines alone. I pass at least five buildings that hose their sidewalks in just the 7 blocks I walk to work every morning.
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jrb, are you involved with your neighborhood council or have contacts with the Street Use office? I smell a post out of this
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No I thought about running, but I live a half a block out side the downtown NC area, I'm actually in Echo Park NC area. I've thought about running as a stake holder since I work in the area. But to answer your question, no I don't know anyone currently on the NC.
Street Use Office?
Maybe I could get them on Villaraigosa's 311 number?
I'll give it a try, and let you know what happens.
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OK, called 311, got transfered to DWP's Water Conservation Hot line, where I left a detailed message and my phone #s.
Didn't get to speak with a human being, but let's see what happens.
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Zach, shoot me an e-mail.
You have my address on record right? If not I don't mind posting my junk address. Let me know.