Water

Water Stewardship Program

Lee Vining Creek photographed by Jim Liscovek, GreenTown volunteer

Water is a unique resource – necessary for sustaining life and not substitutable with any other substance. As our population and economy grow, it is important to efficiently manage the water we have, protect our sources, and build contingencies for drought years.

The GreenTown Los Altos Water Stewardship Program focuses on educating and encouraging Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents to:

  1. Conserve water, both indoors and outdoors. Our water retailers, CalWater and Purissima Hills Water District, must reduce usage by 20% by the year 2020, per California’s SBx7-7 law. GreenTown’s goal is to educate and encourage residents to meet or exceed this goal before that time.
  2. Reduce runoff pollution that flows into the storm drains and into our local waterways. Residents can do this through efficient irrigation, reducing use of pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers, and refraining from other water runoff practices such as washing cars.
  3. Reduce the amount of household chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and excessive salinity dumped into the wastewater.

Permanente Creek, Los Altos

Because 50% of Los Altos water usage and 80% of Los Altos Hills usage is for irrigation, the Water Stewardship Program will focus on outdoor water conservation for 2011. GreenTown volunteers help residents understand the technical assistance and rebates available for reducing outdoor water use and provide information on sustainable water conservation practices, water-friendly products, and local “green” nurseries, irrigation specialists, and landscaping services that can help residents realize real reductions in outdoor water use.

The Program also builds community around the need for water stewardship by organizing events, such as creek cleanups, hands-on workshops, and educational seminars to inform residents about the best opportunities for reducing water use and toxic materials (pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, etc.) that end up in waterways.

If you’d like to contribute to GreenTown’s Water Stewardship program, please contact water@greentownlosaltos.org

Joe Eyre, Chair

Check the Events Calendar for upcoming GreenTown Los Altos events.