Seawater desalination will be a big part of our future water supply, as much as 10% or more. Recycled and grey water will account for 12% of our needs and local water sources will add another 7%. While Agricultural transfers and canal projects will account for 31% of our supply. (www.sdcwa.org)

What’s an agricultural transfer? Or canal project? In the Imperial County, water is delivered to farm fields through a series of earth lined canals and ditches. The water seeps through the bottoms and sides of these distribution facilities and is lost into ground water. SDCWA has an agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) to line these canals with concrete, and modernize the on-farm and in-system conservation programs, thereby saving thousands of acre feet of water per year. In return for improving the canals and conservation systems, the IID is transferring the water that would have been lost to the SDCWA. This could account for over 278,000 acre feet per year, when all the canals are lined!

Unlined Canal

The part where you can help is in the conservation programs. SDCWA is currently running a “20-Gallon Challenge”, with a goal of achieving an additional 56,000 acre feet of water conservation this year. The 20-Gallon Challenge is not difficult and it could save you money. The SDCWA has prepared a web site that outlines some of the easy ways to reduce your water consumption on a daily basis and outlines some of the easy ways to get reimbursed for making improvements to your water system. Just go to: www.20gallon Challenge.com for more information.

Brookfield is doing their part in saving water through such things as installing low flow shower heads and fixtures in all our new homes. We use low water, drought tolerant landscaping and moisture sensitive irrigation equipment that controls the amount of water and and timing of irrigation to minimize output and maximize results. We live in a semi-arid land. We must respect our natural resources and use them wisely. We encourage everyone to step up to the 20-Gallon Challenge!