Water restrictions move to Stage 2

Here's the latest addition to the I Told You So file.  B'game is joining the movement to Stage 2 water restrictions while simultaneously approving ever more new construction--residential and commercial.  The DJ reports that

The City Council adopted the restrictions following a call from state water regulators for local suppliers to enact plans preparing for impending water shortages.  The rules, effective June 10, prohibit “residential and commercial landscapes” from being watered more than two days per week, and between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Washing vehicles is also banned, except for with recycled water.

I'm not sure where you are going to get "recycled water" with enough pressure behind it to actually wash a car, but good luck.  Here's the big red flag for future restrictions

Meanwhile, Hetch Hetchy, the reservoir that supplies water to 2.7 million people in San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda and San Mateo counties, is expected to be full heading into the dry season next year despite below-average snowpack levels, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the agency that owns and operates the system. The question is how much of the water will be available, as negotiations continue that could partially divert it to ecosystems and fisheries in the Bay-Delta, among other uses.

Burlingame Public Works Director Syed Murtuza noted “There will be a lot of staff time dedicated to this effort to conduct inspection, do outreach and respond to complaints.”

It might be good to come up with an answer to the question "Why are we building all this new 'stuff'?" as staff conducts inspections and does outreach.  And we probably should understand why we are going to underwater our trees when the city Urban Water Management Plan tells us there isn't going to be much of a problem even in a five-year drought.

June 17 update.  You probably got a postcard from the city yesterday about the annual water quality report:  www.burlingame.org/waterquality.  Did you notice the license plate on the sweet '68 Camaro?  SAVEH2O   LOL.

Comments

[Handle Bard]

When do us little people get told about this? Hardly anyone I know reads the paper which is a shame but true. I can just see Nextdoor ratfinks sharpening their little claws.

[Spurinna]

Snitchdoor

[Joe]

It turns out that the City did make the announcement of the restrictions on NextDoor. When asked what improvements the City has made on water management, this is the response:

Great question, the City of Burlingame is in its 17th year of its 20-year Routine Meter Maintenance Program which includes replacing water meters at their end of life expectancy. The City is also a member agency of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency which manages a Regional Water Conservation Program to augment our efforts to use water more efficiently. In the past year, we have partnered with organizations to conduct school education programs such as providing WaterWise Kits for children and teachers as well as assemblies. We also provide a rain barrel rebate program, host free online gardening workshops, conduct an annual water loss audit, and implement a permanent water waste prevention ordinance.
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The good news is there are a number of people who can connect the dots between killing our plants and taking short showers with the building, building, building going on in town.