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MARIN COUNTY'S NEWS
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(415)868-1600 -
(415)868-0502(fax) - P.O. Box 31, Bolinas, CA, 94924
February, 2009
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Emergency Water Rationing For Bolinas
By Don Deane
The Bolinas Community Public Utility District Board made a Drought Declaration the last week of January saying that without significant water use reductions the town could run dry before summer. At a special meeting called for Monday, January 26, the board voted unanimously to pass Ordinance No. 37: "Declaring a Prolonged Drought Condition in the Bolinas Community Public Utility District and Implementing Mandatory Conservation Measures Pursuant to a Previously Established Water Shortage Emergency."
On Feb. 18 Resolution 575 will be reviewed by the board citing authority, a drought declaration and new regulations to address the emergency.
Water for the seaside community comes from the Arroyo Honda Creek in the Point Reyes National Seashore. The creek's water flow is currently 60 gallons a minute, a normal flow rate for late summer.
District Manager Jennifer Blackman explained BPUD is assuming there will be no significant rain until December of 2009. "We have reserved water for fire suppression and other emergencies," she added.
There are two district reservoirs to get through dry months with a total of 54 acre-feet of storage.
Currently 19-acre-feet of storage remain to last until December 1.
Increases in automatic watering systems for landscaped properties have caused a change and increase in water use over the last few years. But it doesn't matter whether you water your roses or take lots of showers, a 150 gallon limit per meter is the way the district will measure whether households are meeting water use restrictions. Landscape watering started early this year because of little rainfall.
And it doesn't matter whether you have a household of one or ten. There is still a 150-gallon limit. Bolinas mirror's the nation with an average household size of 2.5 people.
Conventional water use:
Toilet Flush 5-7 gal.
Shower (5 min.) 35 to 50 gal.
Bath 36 to 50 gal.
Laundry 45 to 50 gal.
Dishwasher 15 gal.
Hand dishwashing 15 gal. water running
Brushing teeth 10 gal. water running
Garden watering 630 gal.
1/2 in hose, 1 hr.
TOTAL 1 ea. 791 gal.
Exclude watering 161 gal
Water Saving Use:
Toilet Flush 1.5-3.5 gal
Shower (5 min.) 10 to 20 gal.
Bath
Laundry 12-17 gal.
Dishwasher 7 gal.
Hand dishwashing 5-10 gal. water not running
Brushing teeth 1-3 gal. water not running
Garden watering
1/2 in. hose, 1 hour
TOTAL 1 ea 38,5
Manager Blackman explained the district made the decision to set the limit by water meter flow (150 gallons per meter per day) as it was "objectively fair, value neutral and would keep the BPUD from getting into deciding how people should use their water."
The 150-gallon limit would be reduced further if Arroyo Honda's flow shrunk because of hot weather. Some 330 meters out of almost 600 meters are already meeting the 150-gallon per day limit.
The district designated businesses, public entities and multi-use facilities which will be subject to a 25-percent water reduction instead of the 150 gallon limitation: Commonweal 511 gallons per day (gpd), Bolinas School 355 gpd, Bolinas Laundry 1170 gpd, Smiley's 681 gpd, Coast Cafˇ 1200 gpd, Bolinas Community Center 348 gpd, Land Trust Station 275 gpd, Welsh Bldg. (apts.) 255 gpd, Open Space Bathrooms 417 gpd, Nisbet Orchids 527 gpd, BCPUD 272 gpd, Blue Heron 294 gpd, Land Trust Gibson House 272 gpd, Bolinas Market 248 gpd, the Barn (52 Wharf Rd. 193 gpd.
Discussion included warnings, fines and water shut-offs if households exceed limits. Other sources of water were also discussed including catchments, wells, and private reservoirs within the district.
