Long Beach Water Department: Keep Sprinklers Off During & After Storms

8:00am | With up to two inches of rain expected to fall in the region during the next few days, the Long Beach Water Department is asking residents to remember to turn off their sprinkler systems for at least a week. 

“Our customers have done an outstanding job of conserving water the last few years,” said Dr. Suzanne Dallman, President of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners.  “Long Beach residents have made our city a water conservation leader and we are encouraging them to continue to practice efficient water use habits, which includes turning off their outdoor sprinkler systems when it rains,” added Dr. Dallman. 

Average per capita water use in the City of Long Beach is down to 101.2 gallons per day.  The Water Department has a goal to reduce that number to 100 gallons or less by the end of 2011, which, if accomplished, would provide Long Beach with a water supply that is deemed 100 percent reliable.  This is due to a vote of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to guarantee the water supply of any MWD member agency (including Long Beach, which purchases 40 percent of its water supply from MWD) that achieves an average daily per capita water use rate of 100 gallons or less.
 
“A guaranteed water supply is a huge asset for any city, including Long Beach,” said Kevin Wattier, General Manager for the Long Beach Water Department.  “It would mean that no matter how constricted our region’s water supply becomes in the future, there will be no additional impact to our residents and businesses,” added Wattier.  “Our residents will be able to maintain their current lifestyles and the city will be able to continue to attract and retain businesses whose operations depend upon a reliable water supply.” 

Customers with automatic sprinkler systems may sign up to receive periodic notices throughout the year that recommend when to adjust sprinkler systems according to changes in weather patterns and hydrologic conditions, by visiting www.lbwater.org, and clicking on E-Watering Update.