Pasadena City Council Votes to Maintain Water Conservation Goal

A more permeable Pasadena with native, drought-tolerant trees such as those found at the new Jackson Elementary School campus greening project would also help recharge the Raymond Basin (Photo – Amigos de los Rios)

After a year of historic rainfall, cities around California are considering whether to roll back water conservation programs and goals. On Monday, May 8th the Pasadena City Council became the latest to do so, formally considering a staff recommendation to relax outdoor watering restrictions and eliminate a voluntary 15% water conservation goal (Agenda Item 16).

By Wesley Reutimann

Public comment was not favorable to the proposed change in course. All written and verbal comments on the item urged the City’s leaders to maintain, or strengthen, local water conservation efforts. The Raymond Basin provides approximately 40 percent of Pasadena’s drinking water supply, the majority of which is used for outdoor watering.

 “Conservation needs to be a way of life, and Pasadena needs to take bold steps to reduce consumption, replenish the Raymond Basin, and take on the challenges of dwindling supplies and climate change,” stressed Tim Brick, Executive Director of the Arroyo Seco Foundation and a former Metropolitan Water District Board Member, in written communications to the City Council.

Mr. Brick also noted that the “most effective way to reduce consumption is to promote a movement for native-based landscaping using native plants that require minimal water, are spectacularly beautiful, and enhance biodiversity.”

Raymond Basin water level from 1910 to 2020 (Source – Pasadena Water and Power)

In urging the Council to stay the course, Kathy Kunysz, a retiree of the Metropolitan Water District, highlighted that Pasadena’s water rights in the Raymond Basin have been reduced 24% – 30% due to declining water levels.

After a robust discussion, the City Council moved to maintain the current guidelines as well as the 15% voluntary conservation goal. In doing so City leaders also asked staff to continue public education on proper tree care during the hot summer months, and requested that the Pasadena Municipal Services Committee review the City’s current water conservation tier system – established in 2009 – for a possible update.