Prior to the most recent meeting of the Joshua Basin Water District it looked as though the State Water Resources Control Board might direct the water district to institute surcharges for failure to meet the mandated reduction in consumption. Reporter Mike Lipsitz explains why that didn’t happen ..
When Joshua Basin’s latest production figures were came in, they showed a 27.6 percent reduction; four-tenths of a percent short of the 28% reduction sought. Close enough to slide by without imposing surcharges now, but the state may demand the charges if the goal isn’t met next month. Still, this is quite a contrast to this spring when a 28 percent reduction (as compared to 2013) seemed impossible in a district where considerable resources had already been directed toward conservation. What a surprise to learn now that 11 of the top 12 largest non-residential accounts have experienced significant and dramatic reductions far in excess of 28 percent compared to 2013. At the top of the water saving chart is Joshua Tree Memorial Park at 83 percent, Friendly Hills Elementary (65 percent) and Copper Mountain College (56 percent). Learn more on water conservation at jbwd.org, saveourwater.com, and at Joshua Basin Water District offices on Cholita Road in Joshua Tree.
JOSHUA BASIN WATER CONSERVATION CLOSE ENOUGH TO AVOID SURCHARGES
