Posted on 30 June 2010 By Charming Evelyn
As we go to press, the Water Committee received some good news just in time to celebrate its anniversary. In fact, it’s the best kind of news any conservation committee can hope for: that our hard work is paying off, that people in power are listening to us and responding, and that we are achieving our goals. We have recently received a letter from Counci lmember Paul Koretz’s office informing us that an idea we had pushed for has come to fruition. The letter was a response to a meeting at his office during which we discussed many water-related issues including drought-resistant landscaping. We made a request that the Councilman’s office help City Hall provide a good faith example of their commitment to water conservation by converting some of its lawn space to native and drought-tolerant landscaping, i.e., xeriscaping.
We argued that not only would a xeriscaped City Hall have the immediate conservation benefit of saving water where a thirsty lawn used to be, but that also, we hoped the new landscaping would serve as an example to city residents. We felt this would make any municipal water conservation campaigns that much more effective and persuasive: if City Hall got rid of its thirsty green lawn, then any conservation messages would be coming from a source that practiced what it preached and led by example.
It is my great pleasure to announce that new California friendly plants have been put in at City Hall on the corner of First and Main. It is definitely a step in the right direction!
As a continuation of our first year, the Water Committee has continued to participate in several community outreach events, including several very successful Earth day events around Southern California and the 2nd annual March for Water. Our stickers, magnets and ‘Water On Earth’ project continue to be a huge hit at every event, and we have now added a new card/spin the wheel game to our repertoire, which we hope will also become a staple at events. So far it has been a great success, and audience participation is a joy to watch.
We continue to grow in members and numbers, and to date have a web page as well as a Facebook page and a listserv where members can posts articles, their opinions, have a healthy debate and keep abreast of all water issues. We went on our first ever planned field trip to Hyperion Water Treatment Plant, which was an eye opener to many of us, not familiar with the water treatment process.
The Committee continues to push the conservation agenda forward with DWP and MWD. To that end we have supported DWP’s Reclaimed Water Program, but opposed MWD’s proposed decision to terminate the funding of Water Conservation Rebates. This was also proposed last year.
We opposed it then as we do now and we were once again successful. Programs such as these are beneficial on all fronts to the conservation effort, and they work. Angelenos used 20% less water today, than they did a year ago, but we can still conserve a lot more.
On the table for consideration is support of West Basin’s ‘toilet to tap’ program in lieu of a desalination plant to meet future water needs of SoCal residents; in the works, the completion of a scorecard to evaluate water ordinances, several fieldtrips and another presentation by West Basin.
On a sadder note we lost someone, who was very instrumental in helping evaluate many of the Cities water ordinances. In true Sierra Club spirit he donated his time to our cause. On behalf of the Water Committee, and the staff of the Angeles Chapter, we would like to acknowledge him and his work. Thank you, Gordon Smith and a heartfelt thank you to his family.
As the Chair of the Water Committee, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who continue to give their time and expertise to our many ongoing projects. You have helped to make the Water Committee a great success and I thank you.
The Water Committee meets the second Tuesday of every month at Chapter headquarters; Get involved! Join us at our next meeting.