Drought Restrictions 2016, SCVWD Board Meeting, June 14, 2016

I attended the Santa Clara Water District board meeting last night. Based on the State Water Resource Board requirements, SCVWD after discussion approved a continuing 20% reduction, below previous usage, and will advise the 18 retailers in Santa Clara County, of the required mandatory water savings.

Which brings us back to the question what will San Jose Water Company implement? Their choices are one or more of the following:

• A penalty for "excess use - seems to have been there" or will they call it a "drought surcharge - DS"?
• Will the base water allocation be based on a monthly changing amount based on 2013, as before or will they based on a different year? 
• Outside hoses must have closing sprayers
• Water landscape three times a week vs. twice, no run-off into gutter?
• Watering hours restriction, probably?
• Washing vehicles OK, but counts against your allotment of water?

Keep in mind we are still in a drought, while the reservoirs look good, ground water has been seriously depleted. It will take several wet years to catch up on the drought shortages.