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City reports roughly 15 million gallon reduction in early‑June pumping, outlines conservation steps
Summary
Public works staff reported a comparison of June 1–24 pumping showing about a 15 million gallon reduction year‑over‑year and described operational conservation measures: reduced hydrant flushing, ET‑based smart controllers, prioritized irrigation tiers, leak detection, wetting agents and outreach to residents and institutions.
Staff opened a drought update by referencing the governor’s executive order and statewide drought conditions, then summarized local actions and metrics. Staff said the city pumped about 102 million gallons from June 1–24 in the previous year and about 87 million gallons in the same interval this year — a reduction of roughly 15 million gallons.
Operational steps described include limiting hydrant flushing to essential water‑quality needs, prioritizing irrigation zones (trees and high‑use sports fields at higher priority and low‑use parcels lower), using ET‑based smart irrigation controllers where available, testing sprinkler systems to detect leaks, applying wetting agents to improve soil water retention, adjusting mowing heights, and exploring landscape conversions that reduce turf area. Staff noted state incentives for smart controllers and fixtures and ongoing outreach (newsletter, social media, and a 'water‑wise' page with rebates and tips).
Staff and council discussed whether to mandate watering day limits for residents; staff said they were not yet imposing days‑of‑week limits but had mapped triggers and were prepared to mandate reductions if well capacity or pump problems required it. Council discussed using weather‑station ET data as a basis for incentive programs that reward reduced consumption relative to expected ET demand.
What’s next: Staff will continue implementing ET‑based reductions, pursue leak detection and repair, promote available incentives for residents and institutions, and be prepared to escalate restrictions if system triggers occur.
