Rain in the Forecast: LADWP Urges Customers to Shut Off Sprinklers

With Sierra Snowpack less than half of normal, Continued Water Conservation is Urged

“While it may be raining outside that doesn’t mean we’ve seen an end to California’s historic drought,” LADWP General Manager David H. Wright said. “Because our Eastern Sierra snowpack readings at this point show snow levels well below normal, we continue to urge our customers to save water as much as possible, especially during the winter months.”

Rainfall and snowpack reading levels show the Eastern Sierra snowpack is less than half of normal for this time of year – indicating continued drought for a seventh consecutive year. LADWP utilizes snowpack data from the Eastern Sierra to calculate how much water Los Angeles can expect to receive via the Los Angeles Aqueduct the following year. For planning purposes, the Department projects the next year’s water supply based on the total snowpack level as of April 1 each year, meaning that LA has only three months left to make up for the dismal snow and precipitation levels experienced so far this Fall.

Reducing water waste outdoors is one of the largest water saving opportunities available to Angelenos given this grim projection. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exterior watering can account for up to 60 percent of a customer’s water use and as much as 50 percent of that water is wasted due to inefficient water systems. LADWP conservation experts estimate that the average residential customer would save about 800 gallons by not watering their landscapes for a week – saving both water and money on their utility bill.

Winter is also a great time to check for interior household leaks and fix them. One household toilet leak can waste as much as 200 gallons of water per day. That’s over 6,000 gallons a month for just one leaking toilet.

LADWP is working aggressively to expand the amount of storm water captured from rain events like the one forecasted Thursday and Friday. The Tujunga Spreading Grounds enhancement project which completes in 2018 will deliver nearly 4 billion gallons of recharge to the San Fernando Valley Groundwater Basin on an average annual basis, increasing local water supply while reducing dependence on expensive purchased water imports.

“Despite LADWP’s continued efforts to increase local water resources, the City of Los Angeles remains dependent upon water imported from the Eastern Sierra via the Los Angeles Aqueduct,” Richard Harasick, Senior Assistant General Manager of Water System said. “As weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, water conservation and water supply development through long-term infrastructure projects we have planned and underway here in LA, become more and more important. Please continue to do your part to save water.”

For more water saving tips and for money-saving customer water conservation rebates, please visit SaveTheDropLA.org or MyLADWP.com today.

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