Water Conservation Efforts Save Reported 7.5 Million Gallons in June

Sierra Madre used 7.5 million less gallons of water this past June compared to June of 2012, a sign that water conservation efforts are working, Public Works Director Bruce Inman told the Sierra Madre City Council on Tuesday. 

Inman reported that conservation efforts appear to be making an impact in helping the city reduce its water use.

"Based on our well production for the first part of this month… our production is down over 18 percent. I think the community can be congratulated on that, it’s a tremendous effort," Inman said. 

Inman also reported that through Monday, the city had saved 4.1 million gallons in July over the same period last year.

In May, the city council enacted water restrictions meant to cut residential usage by 20 percent. Unlike most other local cities, Sierra Madre relies almost exclusively on local water sources rather than imported ones, and a dry winter left its aquifers low on water, according to the city's reports.

Mayor Nancy Walsh agreed with Inman that conservation efforts are working, and pointed to some visual evidence.

"I guess we have to thank the public too for all their work," Walsh said after Inman’s presentation. "I know if you drive around town more and more lawns are turning brown, and the brown spots are turning, getting larger. I think everybody’s been really doing their best to conserve water."

At the same meeting, the city council voted to amend the water conservation ordinance to recognize that water usage tends to be much higher during the dry months. The council also voted to purchase $115,500 of water from Arcadia.