Water pipeline restored, restrictions lifted in Santa Cruz
UPDATE 1/13/17 4:08 p.m.: A water restriction for residents in Santa Cruz has been lifted as the city reports a damaged pipeline has been fixed.
The Santa Cruz Water Department said a second fix to the Newell Creek pipeline is holding and the city’s water system is stable.
PREVIOUS STORY: On Wednesday, Santa Cruz declared a local emergency as the city continues to repair a water pipeline damaged by recent storms.
Deputy City Manager Scott Collins said residents are being asked to cut back on their water use, following an initial request to cut back on all non-essential water use by 30 percent on Monday.
The Santa Cruz Water Department reports residents heard that call for help, recording water use dropped from 5.7 million gallons on Monday to 5.3 million gallons on Tuesday.
However the city said it had to tap into resources from the Soquel Creek Water District and storage tanks to meet the city’s needs.
Crews tried to repair the pipeline on Tuesday, but city leaders said that attempt wasn’t successful.
“Santa Cruz residents understand and respect the vulnerable nature of their water supply,” said City Manager Martin Bernal, “we know that it’s a lot to ask them to do more to save water, particularly during this time of year when there are not a lot of non-essential uses of water.”
Residents are asked to take these actions over the several days to a week:
— Less frequent showers/baths
— When showering, shut off flow when lathering
— Flush the toilet only when necessary
— Postpone laundry
— Use paper plates instead of washing dishes
— Warm water on the stove instead of running it to get hot
— No outdoor water uses of any kind
The city said it plans to closely monitor water use over the next 24-48 hours to decide whether more cutbacks are necessary. Water managers said the are trying to fix the pipeline as soon as possible.
More information on the city’s water shortage can be found online at:
