MONTEREY – The last time the Monterey Peninsula saw its current level of water use was during the Dwight Eisenhower administration, the same year America launched its first satellite from the newly formed NASA.
The year was 1958, when Monterey Peninsula water users consumed 9,132 acre-feet of water that year. One acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons, so in 1958 water customers used about three billion gallons. Today, despite the population having grown 40% and visitation is now hitting 9 million people a year, the Peninsula is using roughly the same amount of water as during Ike’s presidency.
Dave Stoldt, the general manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, cited four primary reasons for such a dramatic decline in usage while seeing nearly half again the population: conservation programs, technology, consumer behavior and pricing.
The latter is true of anything that has become more costly over time: people use less. Inflation is a key factor, such as increased cost of labor, rising supply costs, the need to upgrade aging infrastructure and regulatory requirements that affect water quality standards and subsequent investments needed to meet those standards.
Tiered pricing – which some people hate and other people love – is based on the amount of water used in any given month. The least expensive for consumers is using less water. Prices then go up in incremental tiers. Residents using the most water – the ones who might not like tiered pricing – are charged higher rates that subsequently subsidize residents who use less – the ones who likely love the tiered structure.
There are a number of examples of tiered pricing in other industries and even some municipalities that use such a structure to reduce traffic congestion. In the city of New York, drivers are charged a fee to drive into lower Manhattan. The cost is greater during peak hours than non-peak hours. License plate readers are used and a bill is sent to the vehicle’s registered owner.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. uses a similar tiered system to reward customers who use less electricity during peak hours so the company can better manage its grid system.
Another significant cost is the need to acquire new water sources as populations grow. Pure Water Monterey and its expansion projects are clear examples of that need. California American Water Co.’s plans for a desalination plant would also provide an additional water source and an additional cost.
New technologies are also helping to reduce water use. There was a time – a few decades ago – when top-load washing machines were guzzling up some 40 gallons per wash. With more efficient washing machines, the water needed has shrunk to between seven and nine gallons, Stoldt said.
“It’s the same thing with toilets,” he said.
Newer shower heads are also contributing to lower water use. Stoldt noted that in the past hookups were delivering 80 pounds per square inch of water pressure to shower heads providing 10 gallons per minute. Modern shower heads have cut that flow down to 2 gallons per minute and some even less.
Another driver of lower water use are customer behaviors. At a time of dwindling resources, many residents understand that wasteful use of any resource is unsustainable, be it water, fuel or even food. They voluntarily use less water.
And finally the water district in conjunction with Cal Am provides programs to help consumers use less water. The two provide a bevy of free equipment such as bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators, hand-held showerheads and shower timers. The equipment is available at the water district and Cal Am’s offices.
