The following article was published in the Reno Gazette-Journal on July 11, 2008.
Responsible water use helps all of us
Lori Williams
All residents play an important role in maintaining a healthy water supply in the Truckee Meadows. As a reminder, demand on the water system is extremely high during the summer. Our customers' water usage increases 400 percent -- up to about 140 million gallons per day. Outdoor watering is the primary reason for this increase.
Water is a precious resource in our arid region, and I, like many residents, believe that there is never a good reason to waste it. Whether we are in a drought or have plenty of precipitation, we encourage everyone to use water responsibly.
The cornerstone of efficient water management is assigned-day watering. Many residents know that properly watering their lawns twice a week not only saves money on their water bill but also keeps grass green and healthy throughout the summer.
Here in the Truckee Meadows, lawn-watering days are limited and watering is prohibited between 1 and 5 p.m. Customers are reminded that those with addresses ending in even numbers should water on Wednesdays and Saturdays; those with addresses ending in odd numbers should water on Thursdays and Sundays; and businesses should water on Tuesdays and Fridays. Mondays are an important day of rest and recovery for the water system.
With the community committed to watering on assigned days, a direct benefit is the balance and management of peak-day consumption throughout our water system. This has helped the Truckee Meadows Water Authority level out usage and avoid costly facility expansions that would increase rates for all our customers. Thus even/odd watering days save money for all customers.
Assigned-day watering also satisfies the conservation requirements of the Truckee River Negotiated Settlement, which allows us to store saved water in upstream reservoirs for use during drought periods. That's smart insurance to have during a low snowpack year like this one. In addition, during droughts, assigned-day schedules provide predictability as to how much drought storage must be released and treated each day.
Another benefit of this watering program is the splash it makes on behalf of Mother Nature. Water saved through responsible use rolls on, leaving more water in the river for users downstream like Pyramid Lake. This enhances the vital habitats of many native fish and birds, while creating water-related recreational opportunities for all of us to enjoy.
Many people still ask me, "If I save water, is it used for growth?" The answer is no. Water saved by current residents is not allowed to be used for growth. The unused water is retained for drought reserves or stays in the Truckee River.
During this summer we need your cooperation more than ever. With our water system suffering from earthquake damage, you can help by avoiding water waste. As we work to repair the damage, you can find the most updated information at www.tmh2o.com.
As you can see, there are many benefits to assigned-day watering. Thank you for not wasting our precious resource. If you have concerns about water waste, please call our Conservation Hot Line at 834-8005.
Lori Williams is general manager of Truckee Meadows Water Authority.
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