California drought: San Francisco puts caps on watering

[alp227]

Source: SF Chronicle

San Francisco on Tuesday joined a growing number of cities that are rationing water amid a statewide drought, imposing a mandatory 10 percent reduction on outdoor watering.

The mandate, which requires customers to use no more than 90 percent of what they used outdoors in 2013, is meant for all the agency's customers. But it will be enforced mostly on large accounts that use water outside exclusively, including golf courses, shopping malls and office parks.

Enforcement is limited because water meters at most homes and businesses don't distinguish between indoor and outdoor consumption.

"No one really knows when this drought will end," said Harlan Kelly, general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, whose board unanimously approved the watering restriction at its Tuesday meeting. "The mandatory outdoor irrigation reduction is a small but important step as we continue conserving and diversifying our precious water supplies."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Drought-San-Francisco-puts-caps-on-watering-5684559.php

[nilram]

1. SF Giants included?

[LeftyMom]

3. Why do you hate America?

[Calista241]

14. Don't most sports stadiums use recycled water?

I know a bunch of golf courses do.

And i don't know if recycled water alleviates the problem, i just know the Atlanta Braves made a big deal out of not using regular water pulled from Lake Lanier in our drought a few years ago.

[C Moon]

2. I posted a picture of my dog at a park in San Pedro, California last month...

and no one could get over the large expanse of green grass behind her.
I'm hoping it's recirculated water, but I don't know for sure. They should probably post signs saying as such, otherwise, there's going to be some angry citizens pretty soon.

[demosincebirth]

4. I never seen lawns in SF, except at Golden Gate Park

[yuiyoshida]

8. Out where I live there are very few lawns...

Behind our house is brown dried grass.. I only hope no one tosses a cigarette butt back there. I worry about the people barbequing in the back, all it takes is a spark... The city is slowly becoming a desert. Drive down Sunset Avenue and you will see brown patches for miles. Golden Gate Park has green spots,but there maybe a natural stream there..not sure. I am very glad I don't live in the Oakland Hills, where fires have broken out in the past.

[demosincebirth]

9. Looks like wild pigs have rutted all the lawns. That's too bad.

[yuiyoshida]

11. Wild pigs in the city of

San Francisco? Not likely..

[demosincebirth]

13. I didn't think I'd have to use this

[Cha]

12. Wow.. good luck to you all in California, yuiyoshida..

My sister lives down in Chula Vista.. you all need some Good rain and not floods and mudslides!

[marions ghost]

5. Doesnt seem like much of a reduction

[CreekDog]

6. San Francisco uses less water than almost anywhere in the USA already

that's likely why.

conservation has been a long term habit around here since the drought of the 1970's.

[tclambert]

7. Somebody should sue the Koch brothers.

If global warming is causing (or materially contributing) to damages to people's or communities' property, the parties largely responsible should face civil liability.

[onecent]

10. I hate to think how this could turn out, if

California doesn't get some much needed rain.

This could be a MESS.