Second of two parts.
Re: “City’s Mandatory Water Restrictions Lifted”
Isn’t it terrific news that enough water has been accumulated in parched California for 75 percent of the state’s water districts to end restrictions on water usage at home?
What was mandatory last week – reducing usage by 16 percent from 2013 levels – is voluntary this week.
Charles Herbertson, the Public Works director, rhetorically stroked his chin before responding.
“Depends on how you look at it,” he replied with a streak of skepticism.
The issue, of course, is human nature, not Mother Nature.
After acknowledging that the lifting of mandated rules is good news, Mr. Herbertson said that “if there is a negative side, we have been successful in getting people to cut back on their use of water.
“I, personally, don’t think it would be good if people went back to their old habits,” he said.
“If they started using water the way they had done previously, all of the reduction in use would disappear. I mean using it as if water were plentiful again.
“We started forming better habits when we reduced our water usage,” said Mr. Herbertson.
“It just wouldn’t be good if people relaxed and said, ‘We can do what we used to do.’”
The Public Works director said if that attitude catches on, “inevitably in this state, we will be facing the same issues again. That could happen as early as next year.”
Mr. Herbertson’s point: “We are never really completely out of the woods. We don’t want to let our guard down too much.”
