Water District Urges Pacifica Customers to Cutback Water Usage

The North Coast County Water District (NCCWD) is asking all customers to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 20 percent, as California’s historic dry spell continues. 

On Jan. 17, Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency in the state. "Today, I'm declaring a drought emergency in the state of California because we're facing perhaps the worst drought California has ever seen since records began being kept 100 years ago," Brown said. 

At the North Coast County Water District’s January 15th board meeting, the Board and staff discussed the District’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan and current water supply conditions. Board President Tom Piccolotti created a new advisory committee to further examine drought related issues and oversee the District’s plan for water reduction.

“At this time, we are only asking our customers to voluntarily reduce their water consumption,” said General Manager, Cari Lemke, “Be more conscious of your water use habits, repair any leaks you may have and only use as much water as you really need.”

The District currently offers rebates for ultra-low-flow toilets, energy efficient washing machines and lawn replacement. Also available to customers are several free water saving devices such as low-flow shower heads, low-flow bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators, shower timers, leak detection toilet tablets, rain/sprinkler gauges, automatic shut off hose nozzles and Practical Plumbing Handbooks. 

To help meet the goal of your household’s 20 percent reduction, here are some water saving tips from the water district:

·         Check your toilets for leaks-Use free tablets from the water district or put just a few drops of  food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install. However, if you opt to replace your old toilet you may also qualify for a $60 rebate through the NCCWD.

·         Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks-Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak. Contact the NCCWD to set up a free water audit.

·         Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads- Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation. If your clothes washer is old and ready to be replaced, you may qualify for a $125 rebate through PG&E and the NCCWD.

·         Water landscaping during the early parts of the day- Early morning watering reduces waterloss to evaporation. Early morning is generally better than dusk as it also helps prevent the growth of fungus.

·         Serve water by request only- The NCCWD has free table top tents available to all Pacifica restaurants. Serving water upon request helps restaurants conserve not only the water and ice in your glass, but also the water and energy used to wash the glassware. 

For more conservation tips visit  www.nccwd.com or stop by the office located at 2400 Francisco Blvd. and pick up your free water saving devices.