Village News

On July 8, Governor Newsom called on Californians to voluntarily cut their water usage by 15% compared with last year and expanded his regional drought state of emergency to 50 counties, home to roughly 42% of the population, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

If this drought persists, it might outpace the previous drought during Governor Brown’s administration, during which scant winter rainfall led to minimal snowpack on the Sierra Nevada mountains, and spring heat evaporated much of the runoff that was expected to flow into reservoirs, stated the Times. 

With this troubling news in mind, our ever-changing climate requires Village residents to adopt permanent changes to use water more wisely and prepare for more frequent and persistent periods of limited water supply. 

If we cannot reduce usage, it will result in raised rates and penalty charges from the El Toro Water District. We urgently need your cooperation in keeping our water usage and costs in check.

The average Californian uses 196 gallons of water per day. We can work collectively to reduce water use and save money by taking some simple steps: 

• Check for leaks in kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas. Look for worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and other leaking valves (particularly toilets). Call Resident Services at 949-597-4600 if you need a plumber.
• While waiting for the tap water to heat up, capture the cool water to use it later for cooking or watering plants. 

• For an estimated savings of 30 gallons a week, rinse fruit and vegetables in a sink or a pan filled with water instead of running the water continuously.

• Use low-flow shower heads and limit showers to 5 minutes or less for an estimated savings of 75 gallons a week.
• Run only full loads of laundry and dishes; place food scraps into the garbage can or rinse them off with very short blasts of hot water for an estimated savings of 60 gallons per week.
• Car washing: Prohibited in Third Mutual. Allowed in United Mutual as long as a hose features a spray nozzle with a shutoff valve. 

• Use a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Don’t water your plantings between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and refrain from watering the common area landscaping altogether.  
• Do not hose or wash down hard or paved surfaces (driveways, patios and sidewalks).

If you are aware of water waste in the Village, please call the anonymous Compliance Hotline at 949-268-2255, or email at compliance@vmsinc.org and provide specific information.

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