What is a Spare the Water Alert?A Spare the Water Alert is an urgent call to City of Sacramento water customers to voluntarily reduce and delay non-essential water use in order to conserve water and energy, especially in the late afternoon. An Alert is issued when temperatures are expected to be near or reach 100 degrees for at least three consecutive days and demand for water is projected to be high. Why is it Necessary to Issue a Spare the Water Alert?When temperatures reach their peak, demand for water stretches the City's treatment and pumping abilities, making it difficult to refill storage supplies overnight. Refilling these supplies is critical to running the distribution system efficiently, having enough water pressure and retaining adequate reserves for fire emergencies. In addition, energy costs for treating and pumping water to homes are typically most expensive during peak temperatures, especially during late afternoon when electricity demand is high. This means higher energy costs for the City, and can mean higher water and energy bills for customers. How Are Energy and Water Use Connected?Electricity is a water provider's single largest expense. When it comes to conserving water and energy, especially during peak temperatures and hours, turning off the faucet is like turning off a light. |
 Tips for Quickly Reducing Water Use
Did you know...Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours. -U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Receive Spare the Water Alerts via e-mail. When Alert is issued, we'll e-mail you so that you can take action to reduce and delay your water use. |
