San Diego Update

The San Diego city council has passed regulations [discussed here] against water waste, voted to implement property-by-property water “budgets” that would impose dramatically higher rates for those who go over their allotted limit, and put a freeze on developments that increase overall water demand.

These steps are useful, but implementation details will matter.

First, restrictions on water waste make a lot of headlines but have little overall effect (people are STILL watering lawns, even if they don't have water running down the curbs).

Second, water "budgets" are silly if they give more, cheap water to people with big lots. Since over half of urban water goes onto landscaping, it makes no sense to provide cheap water to people with golf course yards. I criticize such a system here. I'd give every PERSON some cheap water and then charge EVERYONE more for using more -- no matter their lot size. That's not popular with the rich people with big lots, but they're rich for a reason, right?

Third, "net zero" development is fine because it allows new construction that improves average water efficiency. I describe how such a system can work (for water or power) here.

(I'm actually quite proud of my "Cap and Develop" system :)

Bottom Line: San Diego has moved away from too cheap water and lightly restrained development (better late than never), but I will watch and see how far it moves towards sustainable development.

hattip to DW