Governor orders mandatory reduction in water-use

Here's the problem: if history repeats itself, we'll all be hit with 25% across-the-board cuts. So those of us who have eliminated our grass yards, who have already installed low-flo dishwashers/washing machines/toilets/faucets/showers, who are careful not to waste water will end up with much lower allocations than the people who have been using water as if there were an unlimited supply.

P.S. It's supposed to rain this weekend

lessons learned -

Excellent point. And the other lesson we have learned is that the water utility will now have less revenue so they will raise rates. Less production for them; higher rates and even more revenues.

Let the lesson begin.

If you are still watering a lawn- we know where you live!

Expect a knock in your door soon.

Too bad the city of Menlo Park does not limit the watering on the island divider on Sand Hill Road just east of Junipero Serra. The water runs down street. Also the business just west of CVS on Sharon Park Drive - again the water just runs down the street.

Those peeps that have been watering their lawn the last 6 months -- what planet have they been living on?

What a waste of 6 mos. of water. Everyone with a brain saw it coming, so they wasted 6 months of water on a lawn that is going to die anyway.

Thanks a pantload. Way to support the community.

It doesn't take much to stick a note in people's mailbox to tell them we're not impressed by a green lawn. Please do this to your neighbors and help them help our community.

a little bleach to show them how it will look brown?

jk, jk...

We have cut back as much as possible over the past years and now we are expected to cut back even more. Why are they approving all the condominiums, hotels and office buildings which will add enormous new consumption - how about a moratorium on their usage!

Whoever posted the comment about "water abusers" being rewarded is so true. Those of us who have been conserving water all year will now have our water use reduced even further, while the "abusers" will be reduced to a normal level. Another point to think about- those of us who have lived through previous drought years, watched the water company raise rates significantly but when water and snow pack again becomes plentiful, the rates never go down. Interesting.....

There are apparently four or five different water districts that serve Menlo Park. With new development projects primarily in two districts, Menlo Park City Water District and California Water District...my concern is how will the mandatory 25% cut back for each district be applied to new customers. Will current customers have to cut back more than 25% to share the reduced amount of water the district receives with thousands of new customers? Facebook, Gateway, St Anton, and Sobrato Commonwealth Corporate Center are all in the City District. Projects on El Camino and Glenwood are in the Calif. Water District. Atherton is also, I believe, a Cal Water customer. Will there be some type of provision going forward for new development/customers within each district?

Yes, I know agriculture is the big water user but there is nothing that can be done overnight or easily to change that situation. Perhaps some kind of building moratorium is indicated until more long term fixes can hopefully be applied. I know using the "M" word will cause many heads on this forum to explode and perhaps it is a bit extreme...but come on things are IMHO unprecedented.

Some thoughts.
Asking people to cut back 25% will mostly affect the water use that others can see.
It will do little for long showers, frequent baths, running water in the sink unnecessarily, backyard watering or flushing more than necessary and who decides what is necessary?

The problem I am describing is best understood by reading about "The Tragedy of the Commons." Web Link
OR Web Link

We need a system that makes each person benefit by how much water they save.

One example: For residential use, raise the water rates to double what they are now and rebate the surplus funds equally to each residence. Those that use less water come out ahead at the expense of those who use lots of water per residence.
I think this concept is valid but the details need lots of work.
Maybe the rebates should be per person instead of per residence.

People in apartment houses should come out good and maybe they should.

Could the same system be used for businesses? I think so, but the water use requirements are very different for each type of business and some allowance would have to be made, maybe using their historical water use or comparing to other similar businesses.

I would like to see a rationing system where we don't need to care about our neighbors water use and with the right incentives and/or disincentives it can be done. I hope!

I think we need something besides a voluntary system and hopefully someone will think of a fair system that can be implemented soon.

I would like to see more ideas about other systems to get the area to save water.