Mandatory water conservation for all NID customers is moving closer to reality. After the District Board declared a drought emergency on April 28th, it went to Stage One of a six-stage contingency plan. That only requires 10-percent voluntary conservation and limiting outdoor watering to every other day. But Water Operations Manager Chip Close says since there hasn’t been much progress, Stage Two will likely be implemented soon…

click to listen to Chip Close

Stage Two would mandate 20-percent conservation, with 30-percent for Stage Three. And Close says this time irrigation customers will also be part of conservation efforts, with supplies dramatically lower, compared to the previous drought. He says right now there will barely be enough reserves by the end of summer…

click to listen to Chip Close

A couple of weeks ago, the Board purchased surplus water from PG and E. But that’s the only time that can be done this season. Customers could also be fined for second and subsequent violations, when under mandatory conservation.