Poway, CA – The City of Poway, along with the San Diego County Water Authority, urges residents and businesses to help conserve water by turning off outdoor irrigation systems.
Rain is forecasted during the next several days. Residents and businesses may be able to keep landscape watering systems off for an extended period of one week or more.
The frequency and length of watering cycles should be reduced during the winter because of shorter, cooler days. To determine when to turn irrigation on, monitor soil moisture. Check the top inch of soil. If still moist, it contains enough water to supply the plants.
The San Diego County Water Authority, which is the City of Poway’s main water supplier, estimates a one-week hiatus from using landscape watering systems across the region could save 2,000 acre-feet of water, or enough to meet the needs of 4,000 families of four for a year.
Although El Niño conditions have brought rainfall to slightly above normal for this time of year, only 5 to 7% of the region’s water supply is captured from local rainfall. Significant challenges to the region’s water supply remain due to regulatory restrictions on pumping water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta region. The City of Poway’s water supply was cut by approximately 8% starting July 1, 2009.
For conservation tips, incentives and programs visit www.poway.org/waterconservation.
Contact: Kristen Mignone Crane
Water Conservation Manager
(858) 668-1215
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