In the face of the ever-continuing drought, the Nipomo Community Services District issued a Stage III water shortage declaration on May 21.
According to NCSD Public Information Director Jessica Matson, the declaration is based on a report known as the Key Wells Index—which measures the level of water in eight wells scattered across the Nipomo Mesa. The report is issued by the Nipomo Mesa Management Area and is supposed to be representative of the overall groundwater level.
The declaration followed a special meeting with the NCSD Board of Directors, which directed the staff to implement a response plan.
Stage III represents severe water shortage conditions and sets the goal to reduce water by 30 percent district-wide. Water-saving measures also extend to other users of the groundwater basin.
The measures include turning off all automated irrigation systems, providing the minimum necessary irrigation to preserve trees and “high-value” landscapes, not draining or filling swimming pools or spas, not using water for dust control or construction, not using hoses to wash cars, and turning off and draining ornamental fountains.
With the declaration, the district suspended applications for new water connections, but current development projects will continue to move forward. However, the district will stop processing all development applications if the shortage conditions are upgraded to Stage IV.
For NCSD General Manager Michael LeBrun, the declaration isn’t cause for alarm because the Nipomo Supplement Water Project pipeline will be finished in June.
“This is not entirely unexpected as we enter the fourth year of serious drought,” LeBrun said. “Our supplemental water supply is arriving just in time.”
When operational testing is complete, LeBrun said the $17.5-million dollar pipeline will carry anywhere between 650 and 800 acre-feet of water (with one acre-foot equaling 325,900 gallons) per year to the Mesa.
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 4, 2015.