Once plentiful water supplies for our desert area began easily on with the drilling of underground wells in the 1920s. Littlerock Dam and Reservoir, built in 1924, was the tallest multiple-arch dam in the world and, along with Lake Palmdale, gave the southern Antelope Valley a huge water supply to grow and expand.
In 2013, the Palmdale Water District started a campaign called “Before the First Drop.” We wanted our customers to know and ask questions about the District’s operations; the costs of supplying and distributing water, the costs of treating water, of pumping wells and Boosters stations, equipment costs, and hiring well trained and certified employees.
The Palmdale Water District is a State Water Contractor meaning we buy water supplied by the State Water Project (the California Aqueduct). The District is entitled to 21,300 acre-feet of water per year from the State Water Project (SWP); however, the amount of water allocated to the District by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) varies from year to year based on rainfall or drought conditions.
Take advantage of Palmdale Water District’s rebates, remember we are still under drought conditions and not letting any water waste occur is the best way of helping. Even with all the rain and snow we have had in the last couple of days, snow packs in the Sierra’s are still below average and the District is still supporting the Governor’s voluntary 20% conservation efforts.
The Palmdale Water District is supporting Governor Jerry Brown’s call to action on the State’s drought emergency and is asking for 20% conservation statewide.
Two new Directors were sworn into office on December 11, 2013, Director Joe Estes, division 2 and Director Vincent Dino, division 5.
The District will be starting another project that will replace approximately 10,000 feet
of old and deteriorated water mains in the area of 20th St. East and 22nd St. East between Avenue Q and Palmdale Boulevard. The work will begin the first part of December and continue for about 5-6 months.
The Palmdale Water District has been talking about “Before the First Drop “since the beginning of 2013. We turn on our faucets and behold clean, clear, water! The facts are water is becoming more expensive, and the reliability of supply is forever changing. Approximately 50% of our water comes from the Delta region in Sacramento traveling down the California Aqueduct and into Lake Palmdale.
There are a number of things to do in the garden during fall season and there are many native plants that can be planted at this time. Ceanothus, toyon, and other native shrubs with their deep, dense roots make excellent choices for erosion control. Plant bulbs that thrive in this climate such as anemones, daffodils, ranunculus, and South African babiana.
The Palmdale Water District is proposing to establish a “Water Supply Fee” that will provide funding for the acquisition of new water supplies to support new development. The Board of Directors will be considering this proposed fee at the September 25, 2013 regular Board meeting. New development will pay the proposed Water Supply Fee to provide the water for their projects. Existing customers will not be charged.
