The Santa Ynez water district congratulated its water customers in Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Ballard, and Solvang for besting their target to use 20 percent less water during September. Rural residential customers reduced usage by 22 percent, and domestic water use went down 25 percent — all voluntarily, according to a district press release. “Our customers have shown a commitment to conservation, responding to the District’s call to cut back and substantially reduce water use. We thank them for going the extra mile and ask that they continue these efforts,” said Karen Carroll, president of the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District, Improvement District No. 1’s Board of Trustees.
The improvement district usually meets water demands during drought conditions with its groundwater stores, but the new state standard for chromium-6 — a naturally occurring element in areas of the Santa Ynez basin — made certain wells off-limits to the district.
“While this trend is encouraging, I urge customers to continue water saving practices because we are still facing tough new water supply constraints and extremely dry conditions,” added Chris Dahlstrom, the water district general manager.