WATER CONSUMPTION

What Was Measured?
Water consumption for residential, commercial and industrial water users in San Mateo County was measured.  Consumption is not identified by specific categories Such as golf courses, cemeteries, municipalities, agriculture, etc.  No data is kept for reclaimed or recycled water, nor for private water-well users.

Each municipality in San Mateo County was contacted to determine the number of cities with water conservation programs or ordinances.

Why Is This Important?
Water is a renewable resource that is subject to definite limits.  The amount of snowpack in the Sierra Nevada that feeds the Hetch-Hetchy reservoir and the amount of rainfall in the San Mateo County watershed determines the supply of water available.  With an expanding population and increased demands on our finite water supply water conservation is necessary for a Community to be sustainable.

What Was Found?
Commercial consumption of water has remained nearly steady despite a 9 percent population increase in San Mateo County between 1985 and 1995.  Industrial water consumption dropped nearly 40 percent from 1985-86 through 1990-91 and has remained steady for the last five years.  Residential consumption has decreased since 1985-86 from 3 3,809 to 29,120 gallons per capita per year in 1994-95.  Several consecutive years of below average rainfall and below average snowpack levels in the Sierra Nevada led to drought conditions throughout most of California including San Mateo County.  The threat of water shortages caused California and local governments to impose water rationing several times between 1986-1993.

Fourteen municipalities were contacted regarding existing water conservation programs or ordinances.  Six of the 14 had programs in place that exceeded California building code requirements.

What Is The Trend?
Commercial and industrial water usage has leveled off, while residential consumption has decreased from pre-drought (1986-87) levels by 6 percent, despite a 9 percent increase in population.

Source: Bay Area Water Users Association Annual Reports 1985 through 1995

Researcher: W. Goertz (Green Environment, Inc.)