The head of Fresno’s public utilities thinks the city can hit its water conservation goals if more people simply follow lawn watering rules. City council members are warning that more drastic steps could need to be taken.
Public Utilities director Thomas Esqueda says the city is on pace to use 28-percent less water than in 2013, which is a goal laid out by Governor Jerry Brown.
Esqueda says the biggest problem now is people watering their lawns too frequently, which is where 46-percent of all the water useage in the city goes.
“It’s the prime target. If you want to look at the other things that are out there you can look at them but follow the money, follow the water. It is in the irrigation system,” Esqueda said.
But Esqueda also warns that city leaders need to be prepared to take more steps if the drought doesn’t break.
Council member Paul Caprioglio says every possibility needs to be on the table…
“In reviewing the development code, I think we need to mandate for all future situations that the plants and landscape be drought tolerance. The era of lush green is gone,” Caprioglio said.
The city could go to level three water management this fall, which would limit watering to one day a week.
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