CITY OF BISHOP Public Works News Release
Conserving Precious Water
Spring has arrived in Bishop and temperatures are up. The increased temperatures have brought
increased water use, so now is a good time to remember what can be done to conserve this
precious resource, and save money too.
Water use in the City of Bishop is always high, especially during the warm parts of the year. In
fact, water use in Bishop is several times the national average and is high even considering our
hot arid summer climate. Reducing the amount of water used reduces the amount of electricity
needed to pump the water out of the ground and it allows water rates to be as low as possible. In
addition, saving water is just the right thing to do.
Irrigation: Irrigation of lawns and landscaping uses the most water in Bishop by far. A huge
amount of water is wasted by over-watering lawns and plants in the yard. Just water what your
lawn and plants need, no more.
Gutter Water: A clear indicator of over-watering is irrigation water running into the street
gutter. Water running down the street is a distressingly familiar sight this time of year and is
prohibited by Bishop law.
Water Mornings: In most cases watering in early morning is best to get the water to your plants
and lawn. But, whenever you choose to water, avoid watering in the heat of the day.
Adjust Sprinklers: Well adjusted sprinkler heads and properly timed automatic sprinkler
controls waste less water. Check your sprinkler heads to make sure water is going just where it
should and check your automatic controls to make sure the time and duration your sprinklers
operate is right.
Thirsty Plants: Landscaping with native plants and other plants that aren’t so thirsty is
becoming more popular. Swapping your thirsty plants with ones that are less thirsty (and still
look great) will save a lot of water over the years.
Indoors: Most Bishop water is used outside but saving water inside can add up too. Don’t leave
water running if you don’t need it and replace fixtures with water saving types.
Incentives: The City of Bishop offers water conservation incentives to its customers in the
forms of giveaways and rebates.
Saving water saves money and reduces water rates and is the right thing to do. Contact the City
of Bishop Department of Public Works at 873-8458 for more information on water conservation
and the City’s water system.
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Tim- very well said ! Thxs!
Surface water cools the earth,
There are countless articles proving this fact.
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2726
A cool earth produces more snow at lower elevations.
More snow at lower elevations generates more snow pack at higher elevations; look at the historical snowfall figures for Owens Valley since the removal of surface water and compare it to other similar regions near the same parallel with no water removal.
DWP has overburdened and damaged the very ecosystem it relies on.
We have perpetually taken resources without replenishment.
We have covered the earth with storm drains and roads that divert water away from wetland replenishing aquifers. We have argued with our leaders who have said these facts are insignificant.
Are we really that stupid?
Yes, We are really that stupid.
I will never conserve water so it can be used to water lawns and fill swimming pools in Southern California.
Use it, before we lose it is right on target.
A position which may explain why Inyo County has the highest water use per-capita of any county in California, more than double the per-capita water use of Los Angeles County.
The logic loop that you are stuck in, Desert Tortoise, has long since become very boring. As to the water war with the DW&P;
If I, living in Inyo County, pump 100,000 gallons of water a day and use it to water my plants, flush my toilet, wash my car, or whatever, the vast majority of that water returns to the aquifer. Even the tiny fraction that evaporates, stays in the ecosystem. All of your statistics about water use ignore the fundamental argument: water “used” in the Owens Valley stays in the Owens Valley and gets recycled over and over. The water that the DW&P pumps is removed from the ecosystem, forever.
Everything that the City of Bishop Public Works Department is trying to accomplish with the above, is a direct result of the export of too much water from this ecosystem.
Do you have a point about that issue?
I say… Lets use our water and as much of it as we can…. If we don’t LADWP will take it anyway.
One problem? We need to look at water as a precious resource first, then we might fix those leaky faucets, stop over watering, stop watering of driveways to not have to sweep, be charged with the amount is used, and less for using less, and of course stop acting like what we do today is sustainable for generations to come, I believe we have that obligation to go out of our “entitled” comfort zones and lead the way to our kids best interest!
try using a broom instead of hosing away grass and dirt,replace lawns with gravel,you dont need a pretty lawn,you have the sierras