Troubled Waters: State OKs water rations as work in the fields dries up

With California experiencing the worst drought in recent memory, the state is taking drastic actions including the approval of relief funds for agricultural workers, and the rationing of water for residents.

Governor Jerry Brown asked Californians to reduce their water use by 20 percent and to prevent water waste on Jan. 17. To date, however, water usage has only been reduced by a dismal five percent compared to water usage during this same time period in previous years.

“Honestly, I feel like I haven’t been feeling it [the drought] because I haven’t been aware [of the effect]. I still have free access to water,” said Johanna Alatorre, an Excelsior resident and recent graduate of Lowell high school. “I feel that the city should help people see the effects of the drought.”

The Bay Area and certain parts of California have yet to experience the true extent of drought. It’s being seen and felt much more in the Central Valley and areas where agriculture is the main source of livelihood.

“People are hurting because of the drought—not just the people who can’t water their lawn, but people who don’t have jobs now because the strawberry crop isn’t coming in,” said Eric Johnson, a spokesman for California’s Department of Housing and Community Development.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, agriculture accounts for approximately 80 percent of the nation’s consumptive water use and over 90 percent in many of the western states. In California, where a large part of the economy is dependent on agriculture, water availability and accessibility is crucial.

Sustainable Conservation, a nonprofit environmental organization that partners with businesses to find environmental solutions that make economic sense, is currently working in two areas severely affected by the drought: the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Coast (Santa Cruz and Monterey counties).

“Obviously, farmers need water to grow crops, and there are approximately 800,000 acres of land that grow crops that are not in production this year because of the water shortage,” said Ashley Boren, executive director at Sustainable Conservation.

“Folks that are working in the field and helping harvest crops—those jobs aren’t going to be there because of the reduced acreage growing food. The unemployment rate is going to be much higher this year, particularly this summer.”

Relief for California farm workers
As a result of the drought, a new $10 million grant program is being offered in 24 counties by California’s Department of Housing and Community Development to assist low-income California families who are impacted by the drought by helping with their rent and utility bills. The Drought Relief Subsidies Program, which took effect when Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 104 into law in March, is being administered by La Cooperativa, a nonprofit organization located in Sacramento.

“This program is really, really important for the workers in California who help put food on our plates, and we’re very much looking forward to working further with La Cooperativa and other local agencies to make sure that this money goes out to people who need it the most,” said Johnson.

La Cooperativa, which has been around for over 20 years offering comprehensive service packages to rural, agricultural regions, has been interacting directly with Californian families and individuals affected by the drought.

“It’s becoming more noticeable now,” said Marco Lazarraga, executive director at La Cooperativa. “A lot of people have come to our offices saying ‘I’m only working 20 hours because there’s not enough work because of the lack of water.’ Definitely the hours reduction is very noticeable—very, very noticeable—and they’re having a hard time because they’re working a lot less.”

Water rationing
On July 15, the state Water Resources Control Board passed regulations that will allow local law enforcement and water agencies to serve those who waste water with a fine that could be as much as $500 a day. Water agencies that fail to enforce the new regulations could be faced fines as much as $10,000 a day.

The regulations, which take effect Aug. 1, prohibit both commercial and residential users from watering lawns and gardens to the extent of runoff, washing down driveways and sidewalks, using portable water in a fountain unless the water can be re-circulated, and using a hose to wash motor vehicles unless the hose has a shut-off nozzle. Exceptions to the regulations will only be made for health and safety circumstances.

“From my personal experience in the 1970s when we went through a seven year drought, it wasn’t until the fines came in that people finally stopped watering the lawn,” Lazarraga said. “[When] local governments finally get to the point of fining people for watering the lawns [then] that’s what finally gets the message in the residential consumer.”