West Covina has a lot to offer the roughly 100,000 residents who call this city home. From towering palm trees to mountain views, there’s no shortage of reasons why Angelenos flock to this coveted San Gabriel Valley suburb. And to keep West Covina a prosperous place to live, the city government has implemented certain water use restrictions (which bear similarities with Pasadena water restrictions).
Keep reading to learn about the city’s water conservation efforts as well as specific strategies you can use to reduce your own water usage. We’ll also discuss water quality in West Covina and how residents can improve their water at home.
Southern Californians are no strangers to drought. That’s why it’s essential for local governments to maintain an adequate water supply for now and for the future, as well as encourage their residents to conserve this precious resource.
Many cities in Southern California use a three-level system to address water shortages. Each of the three levels comes with specific restrictions, with those restrictions increasing in severity and Level 3 representing a true emergency.
With Southern California residents experiencing severe drought over the past few years, it’s important to follow each water use restriction put in place to alleviate the conditions. In June 2022, cities across Southern California, including West Covina, came under new water usage restrictions, specifically a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage. While some California residents can get water from the Colorado River, others must rely on Northern California only to meet their water needs. As a result, millions of customers from the following six water districts are facing a shortage:
The West Covina water restrictions also include about 80 cities and neighborhoods in the region from Agoura Hills to Winnetka. These water restrictions relate both to overall water usage as well as specifically outdoor watering and irrigation usage.
As part of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, West Covina and its neighboring cities have been asked to reduce their household water consumption by 20% and minimize their outdoor water usage to twice weekly.
That means that residents will need to seriously consider how they are using water in their homes and how often they’re watering their lawns or gardens.
Reducing household water consumption by 20% can seem daunting, but the California Department of Water Resources has multiple strategies you can use to conserve water. These strategies range from more time-intensive and expensive (at least initially) to small habits you can incorporate into your daily life to adhere to watering restrictions.
First, consider your appliances, you can install water-efficient appliances and fix any leaks to save significant amounts of water in your home. Likewise, outside, you can plant drought-resistant vegetation and replace your grass or turf landscape.
But you don’t need to spend a lot of money to conserve water. Instead, you can start small with lifestyle changes such as:
Likewise, you don’t need to redo your entire lawn to conserve water. For your garden, helpful habits include:
Each of these habits adds up to make a big difference in your water conservation efforts.
It’s understandable to have concerns about your city’s water quality. There are many contaminants reported to be found in water that’s not properly treated, including:
In fact, in the 1970s, water contaminants from industrial pollution were a major concern in the San Gabriel Valley. As a result, the state-financed and built groundwater treatment programs and facilities in the 1990s. Because of this testing, treatment, and filtration process, the tap water in West Covina may be safe to drink.
However, many people still like to use tools like reverse osmosis and water softeners to improve their water quality. To understand why, it’s helpful to clarify the difference between hard and soft water:
Most cities in Southern California have hard water, so some residents will use water softeners.< Similarly, some residents utilize reverse osmosis systems for better-tasting water. Just because water is safe to drink doesn’t mean that it’s tasty.
Residents in West Covina enjoy safe drinking water. The Level 2 Water Supply Shortage restrictions cities in Southern California including West Covina are currently facing can help stave off future water crises so that residents can continue enjoying that safe water. By reducing their water consumption by 20%, residents can help their community conserve this essential resource. But if you are living in other cities in California (for instance you were wondering about Burbank’s water quality or is Pasadena water safe to drink), we also service neighboring cities. We have reverse osmosis, Los Angeles needs to keep your water top quality.
Thankfully, there are numerous strategies residents can use to conserve water, from drought-resistant landscaping to shorter showers.
And while you’re saving water, we’re saving you money. You can spend less on cleaning products and bottled water and make the most of the water you do use through reverse osmosis systems or water softeners.
Rayne Water is here to help our community stay hydrated.
Sources:
GET A QUOTE
