Water Use Up Despite Shortage and Conservation Alert

Despite asking customers to from May to October this past spring, the Soquel Creek Water District is reporting that water use was up three percent in May and four percent in June.

Rainfall is at just 70 percent of normal so far this year, which led to the District's urgent request that customers voluntarily save about five gallons per day through the fall. 

“Water use tends to rise along with warmer weather. ... We hope we can work together to help protect our water supply and reach the five percent reduction goal by the end of October,” said District Interim General Manager Taj Dufour. 

There are 38,000 customers in the Soquel Creek Water District, all of whom rely on the proper functioning of underground aquifers, which are replenished by rainwater. Without adequate rainfall, the aquifers can only maintain efficacy if people conserve water.

"Recent information from hydrologists confirms that the aquifers underlying the Soquel-Aptos area are already critically low and at risk for seawater intrusion, which would contaminate the water supply," the District said in a prepared statement. "Through conservation efforts and by seeking supplemental water supplies, including the in partnership with the City of Santa Cruz, the District is working to find solutions to its short and long-term water shortages."

What do you do to save water? Have you been paying attention to the water shortage alerts? Tell us in the comments!