Roseville officials explain how residents can conserve water during drought

The California State Water Board recently adopted an emergency regulation requiring water conservation measures to preserve the state's water supply through continued drought conditions. The regulation became effective Jan. 18 and will remain in effect for one year unless the state extends it. California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a drought state of emergency for all counties in California in October 2021. The state only has 58 percent of the precipitation needed for the year, despite record rainfall and snow in 2021. In addition, reservoirs are still lower than needed with summer approaching. The emergency regulation requirements include turning off decorative water fountains, turning off irrigation systems when it is raining and for two days after rain, using an automatic shutoff nozzle on water hoses, using a broom instead of water to clean sidewalks and driveways, and avoiding overwatering trees and plants. The city of Roseville offers multiple resources for residents and commercial businesses to conserve water, including house calls, rebates, workshops, events and online tools. Water Wise house calls The Roseville environmental utilities division has about eight field technicians who conduct about 1,000 Water Wise House Calls a year, said Bobby Alvarez, the water conservation administrator for the city of Roseville. During these calls which last about an hour, staff visit residents' houses to analyze their water usage and provide water saving tips and devices for free. About 62 percent of water being used by residents is being used outdoors, said Alvarez. Customers who received a house call reduced their water usage by an average of 15 percent, according to the city of Roseville. "Since we are all educated in it, we can go to their home and we can actually explain to them about how to reduce their water without hurting their landscape," Alvarez said. To schedule a Water Wise House Call, Roseville residents can call 916-774-5761 or fill out an online form by visiting roseville.ca.us/housecall online. Environmental utilities division staff respond to calls for commercial properties as well, Alvarez said. For big commercial properties, about three or four staff members will spend a few hours analyzing their water use, including looking at irrigation valves and components that may not work anymore. Rebates The Roseville environmental utilities division has set aside about $250,000 this year for residential and commercial water conservation programs, according to Alvarez. If residents or commercial properties want to participate in utility rebates, they can visit roseville.ca.us/rebates to fill out an online application or call 916-774-5761 for assistance. One popular home rebate for saving water in Roseville is Cash for Grass, which offers $1 per square foot of grass removed and replaced with water efficient landscape up to $1,000 per address. Residents must participate in a pre-inspection site visit before they remove their lawn for their conversion to be eligible for the rebate and the conversion project must be completed within 120 days of the pre-inspection date. Participants also need to follow guidelines when converting, including changing from overhead sprays to drip irrigation and having enough low to medium water use plant coverage. A list of recommended plants can be found on the rebates webpage. Although switching grass to synthetic turf also qualifies for the rebate, Cheryl Buckwalter, a landscape consultant with the city of Roseville, does not recommend synthetic grass because it compacts the soil and decreases its ability to hold onto water, leading to less nutrients for plants and trees and more water runoff into storm drains. "I have even known people who water, who irrigate, who spray their synthetic turf to clean it off and to cool it down," Buckwalter said. The city of Roseville will also rebate residents up to $100 toward the cost of replacing their current toilet with a more efficient model that qualifies. Residents must participate in a pre-inspection site visit before replacement and the receipt must be dated within 90 days of purchase. The city offers similar rebates to commercial properties, including for turf conversions, installation of drip irrigation and replacement of cooking equipment for more efficient, water-saving options. A higher dollar per square foot of turf replaced is offered for commercial properties than residential ones, Alvarez said. The Placer County Water Agency Board also offers utility rebates for residents at pcwa.net/smart-water-use/rebate-programs. Workshops and events The city of Roseville also offers multiple public events, workshops and seminars each year to discuss saving water and reducing waste. A full list of upcoming workshops and webinars are available at roseville.ca.us/residents/utility_exploration_center/workshops___webinar. One of the city's annual events is Mulch Mayhem, in which the city gives away about one hundred yards of free mulch until it runs out. The event is expected to happen in May this year and will be updated on the event list, Alvarez said. Roseville's water efficiency team and the Utility Exploration Center in Roseville are also planning on hosting the Placer County master gardener Garden Faire event on April 9 at the Maidu Community Center, said Brayden Mitchell, the Roseville recreation facility manager. The event will include speakers, Roseville Water Efficiency Department presentations, several booths and activities. In addition, the Inspiration Garden at the Utility Exploration Center on Pleasant Grove Boulevard is completed and its grand opening is expected in May, Mitchell said. The garden serves as an example of water-efficient landscaping and the center plans on hosting water-saving gardening classes and DIY workshops during summer. Tips and online tools Roseville's water efficiency team also shared their most important tips and online tools for water-efficient and environmentally-friendly gardening. Landscape consultant Buckwalter said that applying three to four inches of organic mulch to the surface of soil is key because it retains moisture for longer even if it has not rained in a while, moderates the temperature of the soil and keeps down weeds. "You don't get the same benefits from rock and other non-organic or inorganic type of materials," Buckwalter said. Another important tip is using low volume irrigation for watering such as drip irrigation, said water conservation administrator Alvarez. If overhead spray is needed, high-efficiency rotary nozzles can be attached to sprinkler heads that apply larger drops of water and use less water. Buckwalter also recommended selecting local native plants with low to moderate water use for landscaping and to place them far enough apart for them to fully grow to reduce pruning that ends up in landfills. In addition, there is a downloadable irrigation budget calculator and a regional smart irrigation schedule to help residents with how much to cycle their irrigation systems and how much water they need at roseville.ca.us/government/departments/environmental_utilities/programs/water_efficiency. Impact Although most of California's water use is for environmental, agricultural and industrial purposes, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, Roseville's water efficiency team said individuals' water-saving efforts are important. When the city of Roseville called for a mandatory 20-percent reduction in water use during a stage two drought in August 2021, the city went from using 7.4 percent more water than the previous year to using 27.4 less water than the previous year by November that same year, according to Alvarez. "I don't take a gloomy approach to it at all," Buckwalter said. "I'm thankful to have the tools, to have all these resources and to see people's faces light up when they realize that there are things that they can do."