Calabasas, CA (CNN) A beautiful cloudless blue sky over perfectly manicured lawns represents the ugly reality of California’s Las Virgenes watershed as it grapples with a historic mega-drought ravaging the American West.
Despite the lack of measurable rain in months, a lush carpet of green grass likely means homeowners are missing out on the dire need to conserve water, or are ignoring warnings.
Now, however, the water district has found a way to attract the attention of customers. When customer service agents work in different districts, they keep an eye out for violations of water restrictions. And for repeat offenders, officials are trying something new: adding water barriers to pipes that dramatically cut off a home’s water supply.
Lawns of the rich and famous
The area includes some of Southern California’s most sought-after real estate, northwest of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, including areas along the Ventura Freeway.
Las Virgenes imports all of its water from a state water project that diverts runoff from the northern Sierra Nevada mountains to Southern California. But at the end of winter, the snow load was only 4% of normal, forcing unprecedented restrictions. Las Virgenes will receive only 5% of the required water resources this year.
“We have to supplement the water we’ve been getting from the state water project,” said Mike McNutt, director of public affairs and communications for Las Virgenes, who added that the district draws water from its Las Virgenes Reservoir as a backup. emergency, south of Thousand Oaks.
Currently, McNutt confirmed it is 72% full; at full capacity, that’s a six-month supply. “We’ve had to take significant measures to limit water use to ensure long-term water security, which means moving into the fall and winter,” McNutt noted.
Almost all of California is in severe or worse drought (three highest designations), according to the latest US Drought Monitor. Scientists say the 20-year megadrought has been caused by several severely deficient years of rain and snow, fueled by warmer, drier conditions driven by climate change.
If the grass is greener, it’s not good
When the grass being greener isn’t a good thing
In light of the shortage and prolonged drought, Las Virgenes has had residents cut their outdoor watering in half, as required by an unprecedented order from its distributor, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
According to the water district, outdoor watering accounts for 70% of most customers’ water use, so reducing watering can have a huge impact on conservation.
“They’re only allowed to water outside one day a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, depending on whether your address ends in an odd number or an even number,” McNutt explained. Additionally, each sprinkler set can only be on for eight minutes. “It might help keep some of the grass alive if people still want to have grass, but they’re brown.”
CNN traveled with Las Virgenes Senior Customer Service Officer Cason Gilmer as he searched for the wasted water. As he and his crew drive around the coverage area, they watch for water where it shouldn’t be — draining into gutters on sidewalks and streets — or outdoor watering when it should be turned off.
“If it’s in our face and the sprinklers go on at noon Wednesday, it’s an easy target for us,” said Gilmer, who noted that most customers seem to be doing their part now. “In particular, this street was very, very green two months ago.”
During the drive, homes with vibrant green lawns were outnumbered by brown lawns. Some lawns have been replaced with turf and others have been painted green.
Neighbors can crush on each other, celebrities included
Neighbors can rat on each other, celebrities included
If someone in the water body notices water waste, they can leave a sign on the door to let the homeowner know they are not in compliance and what they need to do. They also send letters. The water district fines violators, resulting in charges that can run into the thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the violation.
But the affluent Calabasas retreat on the waterfront is home to many deep-pocketed A-listers. Some of these big names—celebrities, musicians, and athletes—have been using far more water than they should, according to recent data.
People like Kevin Hart, Dwyane Wade and, according to the Los Angeles Times, Kourtney Kardashian, as well as sister Kim.
None responded to CNN’s request for comment. But in a statement to the Times, Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, said they had “taken drastic steps to reduce water use in accordance with new city guidelines and have since moved into their home.”
Las Virgenes said that all of these celebrities are currently in good standing.
“These particular celebrities have worked very closely with the district. They want to do the right thing … to achieve a much more efficient level of water use,” McNutt said.
And if the fines aren’t enough, it’s time to bring in the limiter
And when fines are not enough, it’s time to bring in the restrictor
With so many affluent residents, Las Virgenes has learned that some customers react more to losing water than losing money.
“We’re trying to do public education and outreach and stuff about the drought, but a lot of people are throwing the mail away. They’re ignoring it,” said Gilmer, who created a simple but effective way to get users’ attention by the gallon. time. “I call it a bit of a last resort.”
The water restrictor is a thin circle of food-grade stainless steel with a small hole in the center that fits directly into the offending customer’s water meter, which technicians can usually access directly from the street because the meters are owned by the district.
“This particular limiter will give you about one gallon per minute. Typically a three-quarter-inch meter is 25 to 30 gallons per minute. So at 25 to 30 gallons per minute, you can run the dishwasher and the sink and have somebody showering and maybe even watering on and nobody knows difference,” Gilmer explained. “When the restrictor is in… your sink works fine. Your shower works fine. The irrigation doesn’t work. It just doesn’t deliver the amount of water it needs.”
Gilmer even tried it in his own house to see what it was like to restrict the water.
“The big part was that you can’t do two things at once. So when I was in the shower and my wife was trying to wash the dishes, my shower was done. I just got out,” Gilmer said with a slight smile. “My wife insisted I take it off after a day and a half.”
If the customer uses four times more than 150% of the water allocation, he is in line for the installation of a flow limiter. Las Virgenes says about 1,600 connections fall into this category, or just over 7% of its customer base.
“It’s not meant to be a punishment,” McNutt said. “It’s about telling people … this drought is incredibly serious and what we have to do is do our part.”
McNutt added that Las Virgenes is a model in California for “using these flow-limiting devices for protection.”
“We’re leading the charge moving forward on how to get people to stop using so much water as climate change progresses.”
What are the main causes of water crisis?
What is causing the global water crisis?
- Climate change. Not surprisingly, climate change is one of the main causes of the global water crisis. …
- Natural disasters. …
- War and conflict. …
- Sewage. …
- Water waste. …
- Lack of water data. …
- Lack of international cooperation on shared water sources. …
- Lack of infrastructure.
What are the causes of water crisis in India? India’s water crisis is often attributed to poor government planning, increased corporate privatization, industrial and human waste, and government corruption. Additionally, water scarcity in India is expected to worsen as the population grows to 1.6 billion by 2050.
What is the main water crisis?
The clean water crisis is an emerging global crisis affecting approximately 785 million people worldwide. 1.1 billion people do not have access to water and 2.7 billion people experience water shortages for at least one month of the year. 2.4 billion people suffer from water pollution and poor sanitation.
What is the crisis of water?
When the waters dry up, people cannot drink enough, wash or feed their crops, and economic decline can occur. In addition, inadequate sanitation – a problem for 2.4 billion people – can lead to deadly diarrheal diseases, including cholera and typhoid, and other waterborne diseases.
What is the biggest water problem?
Rising temperatures and drought Climate change is perhaps the greatest threat to the global water system simply because it is actually made up of many different threats. As greenhouse gas emissions cause the planet’s temperature to rise, the world’s hottest regions are getting even hotter and drier.
What are the effects of water crisis?
Water scarcity limits access to clean drinking water and basic hygiene at home, schools and health facilities. When water is scarce, sewage systems can fail and risk diseases such as cholera. Even scarce water is getting more expensive.
Who does the water crisis affect?
Women and children are the most affected – children because they are more vulnerable to diseases caused by dirty water, and women and girls because they often carry an estimated 200 million hours a day of carrying water for their families.
What are the causes and effects of water scarcity?
Some of the factors contributing to water scarcity are climate change, overuse of water and increased pollution. This phenomenon affects many regions around the world, and approximately 2.7 billion people experience water scarcity each year.
Why do we need to solve the water crisis?
The United Nations recognizes the importance of addressing the global water crisis every year on World Water Day, March 22. Without clean and easily accessible water, families and communities are stuck in poverty for generations. Children drop out of school and parents struggle to make ends meet.
Why should we care about the water crisis? Water scarcity limits access to clean drinking water and basic hygiene at home, schools and health facilities. When water is scarce, sewage systems can fail and risk diseases such as cholera. Even scarce water is getting more expensive.
Is California still in a drought 2022?
The first nine months of the 2022 water year are now under way, and California is still in extreme drought conditions.
Is California still in drought? The state continues to monitor drought conditions. It is committed to solving drought problems while solving long-term water problems. For more information, see Water Year 2021: An Extreme Year (this is a pdf file) .
How long before California is out of water?
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) now predicts that California will only have water supplies for one year.
Is it possible for California to run out of water?
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the state is experiencing severe, extreme or exceptional drought; In 2020, climate scientists found that California is in the midst of a “megadrought” that is being exacerbated by climate change and is likely to continue indefinitely.
Does California have enough water for new homes?
In short, water experts say that if the 60-year trend of residents using less continues and accelerates into the future, there will be enough new homes and people. Our guest is Ellen Hanak, director of the Center for Water Policy at the Public Policy Institute of California.
How long will the drought in California last?
Even if we get through the summer with average precipitation, 2022 will join 2002 and 2021 as the three driest years of the past century and likely the driest since the 1700s, he added. “We’ve had three of these ‘driest in the last 300 years’ years in the last two decades,” he said.
How much longer will California have water?
Total water stored in state-managed reservoirs by month These include: increasing brackish water desalination by 28,000 acre-feet per year by 2030 and 84,000 acre-feet per year by 2040.
What will happen to California if the drought continues?
Avoiding the Extinction of Wild Fish: The ongoing drought is likely to cause multiple extinctions of wild fish species in the wild, and California has no plan to address this problem. More cautious strategies to conserve reservoir water for environmental flows can help, and buying water to increase flow can reduce conflicts.
Will there be a drought in 2022?
July 5, 2022 As of July 5, 2022, the U.S. covers Drought Monitor moderate to extreme drought 44.3% of United States, including Puerto Rico, up from 42.5% last week Moderate to extreme drought covers 44.3% of the United States, including Puerto Rico. an increase from last week’s 42.5%.
How long until there is a drought?
If the weather with a precipitation deficit lasts for a few weeks or months, it is considered a short-term drought. If the pattern and rainfall deficit lasts for more than six months, it is usually considered a long-term drought.
What states are in a drought 2022?
As of July 11, 2022, drought conditions were most severe in California, Texas, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. As of July 11, 2022, more than 32 percent of land in western states was in extreme or exceptional drought, according to the USDM.
Where does California get most of its water?
California gets 75 percent of its rain and snow in watersheds north of Sacramento. However, 80 percent of California’s water needs come from the southern 2/3 of the state.
Could California run out of water? According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the state is experiencing severe, extreme or exceptional drought; In 2020, climate scientists found that California is in the midst of a “megadrought” that is being exacerbated by climate change and is likely to continue indefinitely.
Where does California get their water supply?
California depends on two sources of water: surface water and groundwater. Water that flows into rivers, lakes and reservoirs is called “surface water”. Groundwater is found underground in pores and between rocks and soil.
Where does California get most of its water from?
Colorado River It is managed by the Southern California Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and is the primary source of drinking water for the region.
Where does the state of California get its water?
93 percent of Californians use publicly supplied water for their domestic water needs. 82% of the water supplied by public water bodies for domestic and other purposes comes from rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other surface water sources (Kenny et al.
Where is most of California water?
About 75% of California’s water supply comes from north of Sacramento, while 80% of water needs are in the southern two-thirds of the state.
What county in California has the most water?
| Place | County | Total area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Barbara | 3,789 square miles |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 4,751 square miles |
| 3 | Monterey | 3,771 square miles |
| 4 | Humboldt | 4,052 square miles |
Where is California’s water stored?
Groundwater is California’s largest storage source. In drought-free years, it supplies about a third of the water for cities and farms, and in some areas more. During severe drought, groundwater supplies more than half of the state’s water use.
Sources :