Santa Clara County Supervisor Urges 25 Percent Reduction In Water Use By Local Governments
SAN JOSE (KCBS) – When it comes to reducing water use during the drought, one Santa Clara County supervisor is of the opinion that local government departments are not doing enough.
Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, who is also a candidate for mayor in San Jose, said he has concerns about the way government is using water.
"I'm calling for a mandatory 25 percent reduction in all county operations," Cortese said. "This is a big operation, 700 individual pieces of property, 15,000 employees, and a $4 billion budget. I think if we can cut our water usage down by 25 percent, it will set a good example for the rest of the community."
Santa Clara County Supervisor Urges 25 Percent Reduction In Water Use By Local Governments
Cortese said while most property owners have cut back on their water use, some still haven't gotten the message.
"I was just walking by an office complex this morning. The sidewalks were wet, the lawn was wet, the lawns are green – it's really not necessary," he said. "I'm sure that owner would like their property to have great curb appeal. But that's just not a luxury right now. People should start thinking about, those who can afford it, to convert to drought-resistant, or even Arizona-style landscaping, where you basically go with things that don't need to be watered."
The Santa Clara Valley Water District said water conservation numbers are going in the wrong direction. Preliminary water use data from February through May shows cumulative countywide savings at only 12 percent.
