San Diego's CLCA 2009 Water Report: How thirsty are we going to be?

Water – we’ve taken it for granted for so long and suddenly we’re in trouble.  However, it’s not exactly sudden.  In 1993, aware of the problem, the San Diego Chapter of the CLCA (California Landscape Contractors Association) commissioned a study to profile alternative source of water and outlined its current conservation efforts.  Recently, they have updated the report and highlighted some of the challenges San Diego faces in allocating an adequate, future water supply.  (Keep in mind that 88% of San Diego’s water is already being imported from as far away as the Colorado River.)

The report, “Our Water, Our Future,” outlines some of these challenges, including: legal challenges related to endangered species of fish, loss of delta levees because of earthquakes, loss of delivery due to earthquakes, climate change, unchecked population growth in the American Southwest, and the belief that water use for Southern California is more important than environmental use in the delta.  Most importantly, the report discusses the fact that people are doing little to change the situation.

However, all is not lost!  The report has made recommendations to promote water conservation and awareness:

1. Get involved with the local water board.  This lets representatives know that CLCA members are aware of the issues facing San Diego and willing to do something about it problem.
2. Hire a certified CLCA water manager to help you maintain a properly running irrigation system.
3. Get involved in CLCA volunteer activity – particularly the Water Committee. 

For more on San Diego’s water problem, go to:

San Diego’s Current Drought Response Level

Sunset Magazine’s Waterwise Gardening Article

San Diego County Water Authority