The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners announced last week that the city of Long Beach has set a new 10-year record low for water consumption for the month of March. Citywide water demand during the month was 16.2 percent below the city’s historical 10-year average (the ten-year period from October 1997 to September 2007). For the past 12 months, water demand in Long Beach is running at 17 percent below the historical average. Â
Of the 42 months that have passed since Long Beach officials implemented citywide mandatory restrictions on certain uses of water, 32 of them have broken previous records for low water consumption. During a two-year plus period from October 2007 to November 2009, the city saw 26 straight months of new record lows.
“We are very proud of the ongoing efforts by our customers to make and sustain permanent lifestyle changes that reduce water use,” said Dr. Suzanne Dallman, president of the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. “Our residents have come to understand that whether we’re in a drought or not, we must remain committed to using water responsibly.”
Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster also furthered the city’s commitment to conserving water by declaring that Long Beach would participate in the Wyland Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. The challenge asks residents to make online pledges that save water and benefit the environment.
“Long Beach residents have done a fantastic job of saving water during the past three and a half years,” Foster said. “I am confident that our city will perform very well in the Mayor’s Challenge.”
The challenge is running from April 1 through April 30 and can be taken online by visiting mywaterpledge.com. Residents from the winning city will receive prizes that include tickets to a Los Angeles Angels baseball game, passes to Disneyland and half-off tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific.
