TITLE
Recommendation to receive a presentation from the Water Department to the City Council regarding the Statewide Drought and how Long Beach can prepare for potential effects.
DISCUSSION
2013 was the driest year in recorded history for California. Many reservoirs throughout the state are at low levels, and Governor Brown has recently declared a statewide drought. This drought compounds the problem of a long-term mismatch between demand for water and our limited supply.
Long Beach has a long record of water conservation. Successful initiatives here include such efforts as the "Lawn to Garden" initiative and our Graywater pilot project, which made Long Beach one of the first cities in California to take advantage of revised state guidelines allowing graywater use. However, given the current water situation, it is prudent that we continue to contemplate what impacts there may be on the availability of water to Long Beach residents, and what further initiatives our Board of Water Commissioners may consider to meet this challenge. Therefore, it is requested that the City Council receive a presentation from the Water Department about the current crisis and how Long Beach and its residents can conserve and make prudent investments to prepare for this and future water shortage impacts.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no significant fiscal impact to this item.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JAMES JOHNSON
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT
SUJA LOWENTHAL
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT