Summer water use in Pasadena at its lowest level since 1994

This article by Nicole Santa Cruz on the LA Times website completely made my day!!!

Summer water use in Pasadena at its lowest level since 1994

Summer water use in Pasadena dropped to its lowest level since 1994, according to updated numbers released today.

The net water usage from July 1 to Sept. 30 was down 12% from the same period last year. Usage was 19% lower than the same period in 2007, according to the city.

City officials attribute the lower numbers to a citywide effort to conserve water, especially by large corporations and businesses such as Huntington Hospital, Parsons, Caltech and the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Some businesses have installed artificial turf, switched out sprinkler heads and replaced landscapes with drought-friendly plants.

Jess Waiters, assistant general manager of the Rose Bowl Operating Company, said the stadium is compelled to conserve water, both for financial and environmental reasons.

“It’s doing the right thing,” he said. “It’s good for our ecology and certainly helps with our financial picture going forward.”

On July 13, the council declared an official water shortage, which triggered mandatory restrictions on the outdoor watering, said Erica Rolufs, a communications manager for Pasadena Water and Power.

Outdoor watering is allowed Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays during the summer, and one day a week during the winter period, which runs from Nov. 1 to March 31.

The restriction also required that all sprinkler and water leaks be fixed within 72 hours.

On Aug. 1, Pasadena Water and Power raised the cost of water for the first time in 13 years, Rolufs said.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/summer-water-use-in-pasadena-at-its-lowest-level-since-1994.html