In response to three consecutive dry years, Governor Schwarzenegger declared a drought state of emergency in February 2009 and called on residents to voluntarily reduce water use. Well in advance of the announcement, local stakeholders joined together with the Santa Clarita Valley Family of Water Suppliers to develop a long-term water resource strategy and the Voluntary Water Conservation Action Plan, which encourages conservation.
More than 65 percent of water is used outdoors during hot summer months, and the Action Plan walks residents and businesses through these simple steps to achieve water efficiency:
Reduce outdoor watering to a maximum of three times per week
Set sprinklers to run during early morning hours and for no longer than 10 minutes per station
Sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of washing them down
If conditions do not improve, the state/local government could implement mandatory water rationing and reductions to make water supplies last through extended drought conditions. Together we can prevent restrictions and ensure water for our future.
