West Kern Water District is feeling the pinch after a second season of draught hits Taft and the outlying communities it supplies. Dawn Cole the Assistant General Manager and Human Resource Director for the water district stated that most consumers don’t understand where the water comes from or any of the process the water and the district itself must go through to provide us with that nice clean fresh water straight out of the tap. Out of the district’s allocation of more than 31,000 acre feet of water, we are only receiving about 35% of that. However, the district is still responsible for the full allocation and must pay as if receiving the full amount. Governor Schwarzenegger on June 4th, 2008 declared California was in a statewide drought and issued an Executive order that numerous California communities would be forced to mandate water conservation and also encouraged water companies throughout California to promote water conservation to it’s users. The Governor also renewed a previous plan from 2006 in the current budget which will now allot almost $12 billion dollars to go towards water bond and water investments. This bond included $3.5 billion to develop additional storage, $2.4 billion towards to implementing of the Delta management plan, $1.1 for river restoration, $3.1 billion to increase water conservation, $1.1 to improve the quality of the water, and $700 million for water recycling.
At the Sit-N-Sip at the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday morning Director Cole addressed these issues as well as issues regarding our own district. Due to the local drought our water district is having to use water out of our ground supply in our Aquifer, and what we take out we must put back. After our lack of rainfall and snow fall over the past few years we are running on shorton our supply but Cole stated that “… there is water out there.”
Water agencies throughout California are permitted to do “exchanges”, some counties have a 2fer deal and there have been cases of a 3fer deal. This is where one county will exchange say 10,000 acre foot of water and if the deal is a 2fer when the contract is due, the county who purchased the water will return double or 10,000 acre foot plus an additional 10,000 acre foot.
WKWD is looking at some long term ideas such as a dual conveyance system. This could potentially use our former waste water for things such as supplying water to homes for lawn and gardening through a completely separate system from the water that runs inside of our homes.
A stand still and a possible problem occurred on March 22nd, 2007 when Alameda Superior Court Judge ordered that the California Department of Water Resources must obtain a “take permit” from the Department of Fish and Game due to the fact that some of the pumps in the California Delta have killed the endangered Delta Smelt, Spring Run Chinook Salmon and Winter Run Chinook Salmon
during the pump and filtering process. The judge then ordered the State Department of Water Resources to shut down the states water export pumps in the South Delta in order to save the endangered salmon and Delta Smelt. Lester Snow, director of Department of Water Resources explained “We’re perplexed with the court’s ruling in this case,” Snow continued stating “We find the prospect of curtailing pumping to be unacceptable in terms of the economic consequences to the state.”
Although times are tough and the WKWD will possibly have to make adjustments to coincide with our shortage, there are several things you as a consumer can do that will help. Here are some suggestions.
Bathroom and Kitchen
- Attach a faucet aerator to your sinks. This reduces the flow of water out of the tap by 50%!
- Attach a low flow shower head
- Low fill toilet
- Only wash full loads of dishes in your dishwasher or try hand washing dishes, use one large bowl for washing and one large bowl for rinsing
- Add a sealed plastic bottle inside your toilet cistern or adjusting the water level
- Refrigerate drinking water to eliminate water running out of the tap
- Don't use your toilet as an ashtray or garbage can. This wastes 5-7 gallons of water every flush!
- Turn off the sink while brushing your teeth
- Rinse razors in a sink filled with a few inches of water
- Take short showers
- Check for leaks in and around all water pipes.

Laundry Room
-Reduce your water temperature for your washing machine. Most clothes can be washed in cold water. This will also lower your gas bill!
- Only wash clothes if you have a full load. Or adjust your load size to meet the quantity of clothes you have

Outside
- If you have a lawn or garden, try watering in the early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation.
- Insulate your water pipes.
- Pipe your washing machine, dishwasher etc. to drain outside to water your garden, lawn, etc.
- Try watering your lawn every 2-4 days instead of every day
- Use mulch around your trees. It absorbs water.
- Make sure your sprinklers are pointed towards the grass or flowers, so you are not watering the sidewalk or street
- Don't let your water hose run while washing your car. Spray your car off fill a bucket with soapy water then turn your water off until you are ready to rinse.

TThese are just a few ways you can help conserve wwater.