Pasadena Residents Lauded by State Official for Water Conservation Efforts But Urged to do More

[UPDATED] California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot lauded Pasadenans, including city authorities Thursday for local measures taken to save water but with the worsening drought conditions, urged residents and businesses to step up their efforts to ensure there is enough water supply to meet current and future needs. 

“Climate change is on the march. Meaning as we continue to invest to build our drought resilience and continue to prosper as Californians, we have to contend with this current worsening drought,” Crowfoot said at a press conference on drought response actions by the state, the city and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD).

Crowfoot was joined by Mayor Victor Gordo, City Manager Cynthia Kurtz, and Pasadena Water and Power Interim General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger for the media event held at the Sheldon Reservoir in West Pasadena.

“And so we’re here asking you all to step up once again,” the state official continued. 

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a state budget that includes $2.8 billion for near- and long-term drought response actions to build water resilience and promote water conservation, including $175 million for turf replacement and other water-saving strategies. 

Outdoor landscaping is the single largest use of water in a typical California home or business. 

Currently, the MWD provides residents and businesses with a rebate of $2 per square foot of lawn converted to water-efficient landscaping under its Turf Replacement Program. The program has helped facilitate the removal of more than 200 million square feet of grass, saving enough water to serve 62,000 Southland homes annually.  

Crowfoot urged residents to consider changing their lawn and checking the irrigation system to ensure that it’s as efficient as it can be. He also encouraged them to look for opportunities to change outdated appliances for more water efficient appliances.

Crowfoot noted that these actions are invaluable in helping the state stretch water supplies. 

“We don’t know when this drought will end and it’s getting worse by the month and worse by the year.” 

“Each of us can play a role and drought action is climate change action and your efforts, the improvements that you make will stretch water supplies moving forward,” Crowfoot said during the press conference held at the Sheldon Reservoir in Pasadena. 

Cynthia Kurtz, interim city manager and Pasadena representative at MWD Board noted that aside from reducing outdoor water use, small actions such as turning faucets when not in use, also make a difference. 

“Everyone needs to do something. Even if it’s only fixing a leak or a dripping faucet, it all helps. It all adds up to being less water for each and every one of us knowing that each and every one of us will continue to have the water that we actually need.“ 

“With every drop saved, we’re doing great things for our environment,” said Kurtz. 

Since August of 2021, Pasadena has been implementing conservation actions under Level 2 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan under the Pasadena Municipal Code to establish a voluntary water reduction target of 15%, which aligns with the state’s reduction goal.

The plan restricts outdoor watering to two days per week from April to October and one day per week from November to March. Prior to the implementation of the water schedule, Pasadena residents may water three days a week: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. 

“Pasadena’s conservation efforts have resulted in a 9% water reduction year over year. And that’s tremendous– we owe a tremendous applause to the people of Pasadena who have heard the message related to the importance of sustainability and protecting our water resources,” said Mayor Victor Gordo. 

The mayor added that over the last ten years, through the various measures in place, water usage in Pasadena has reduced by 15%. 

“That’s an important number as well because we’ve also, at the same time, seen a growth in population of Pasadena, approximately 5%. And we are very proud of the fact that even as we grow as a city we’re doing our part to ensure that we protect water as an important asset.” 

Gordo vowed to continue working with the CNRA and the MWB “to sustain our environment and protect our precious resource of water.” 

For more information on Metropolitan’s Turf Replacement Program visit https://ww5.cityofpasadena.net/water-and-power/turfreplacement/. 

For more information and additional water saving tips, visit PWPweb.com/SaveWater.