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Residents have been reminded to conserve water six months after a stage 2 water shortage emergency was declared in Redwood City.
The stage 2 emergency, which was announced on January 10, calls on customers to limit their water usage to 45 gallons per person per day and to reduce outdoor irrigation by 35%. There’s currently no estimate of how long the emergency will last or whether stricter limitations are to come, according to Director of Public Works Services Terence Kyaw.
The new regulations come in the wake of worsening drought conditions statewide, said Kyaw, who attributed the shortage to climate change.
“The last three years we’ve been receiving less and less snow in the Sierras, so gradually our reservoir is starting to deplete,” he said. “We are at about 70-80% of normal so we want to preserve water as much as possible.”
The city is also considering reviving a program to provide the community with recycled water for outdoor landscape watering during the drought. Participants in the residential fill station program would be able to bring approved containers to collect recycled water from a designated station.
In a recent survey, which was completed by 53 residents, nearly 70% of participants expressed interest in a recycled water fill station program. Because of the low turnout, however, the city has not yet decided if it will revive the program.
“Staff continues to evaluate the efficacy of offering the program given the severe drought,” said Communications Manager Jennifer Yamaguma. “In the meantime, we will be pushing information through our communication channels on ways to save water by following the current drought restrictions.”
First implemented in 2015, the program was suspended in 2017 “due to low participation,” according to the city, which added that “the cost of running the program outweighed the benefit” of potable water saved. Administrative and operational costs are participation-dependent but can total an estimated $60-65,000 per year, which would be funded primarily by the city’s Water Conservation Program and a small participants’ fee.
The program represents just one piece of the city’s larger Recycled Water Program, which is primarily focused on expanding recycled water infrastructure and usage, according to the city.
For Redwood City, which purchases its water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), this marks the first new water restrictions since former governor Jerry Brown lifted the drought emergency in 2017, according to Kyaw.
The city’s water limitations are set to meet regional allocations, as determined by an emergency resolution issued by the California State Water Board in May. The legislation comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued several proclamations and an executive order over the last year, addressing the state of California’s drought and urging residents to reduce water usage.
Though the current regulations are voluntary, the city hopes to be able to meet its quota without having to resort to stricter emergency measures.
“We are reporting monthly to the regional water board about usage and how we’re meeting the requirements,” Kyaw said. “If 90% of the community can meet the requirement, then stage 3 may not happen.”
If elevated to stage 3, city residents would be asked to use no more than 40 gallons of water per person per day and to reduce outdoor irrigation by 65%.
According to the city, residents should be able to meet their 35% irrigation reduction by limiting outdoor watering to no more than two days per week based on the following schedule:
- Addresses ending with an odd number only irrigate on Mondays and Thursdays
- Customers with no address only irrigate on Mondays and Thursdays
- Addresses ending with an even number only irrigate on Tuesdays and Fridays
“The best thing people can do is reduce outdoor water usage,” said Kyaw, adding that irrigation technology has improved dramatically.
In addition to providing free technical assistance over the phone, Redwood City also offers rebate programs that customers can apply for to install updated, smart irrigation systems.
Residents can learn more about Redwood City Drought Restrictions by visiting the city’s Drought Information webpage. Customers can also track monthly water usage by logging into their My Water account.
