Long Beach residents' water consumption set a 10-year record low in the 2009 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, Water Department officials announced last week. Water use was down 17 percent over the average, which was the lowest total since 1965.
Water demand in September 2009, which came in at over 16 percent below average, was also a new record 10-year low, which means that 11 of the 12 months in FY 09 were new records for low water use. Since the Board of Water Commissioners issued their declaration of imminent water supply shortage for Long Beach two years ago, 20 out of 24 months have produced new record 10-year lows.
The Water Department also announced today that Long Beach had the lowest number of water main breaks ever in the 2009 fiscal year. Only 26 water main breaks occurred over the past year, compared with an annual average of 59 breaks over the previous eight fiscal years, officials said. From the 1991 to 2000 fiscal years, the city averaged 133 water main breaks per year.
The Long Beach Water Department has invested nearly $90 million since the 2008 fiscal year to upgrade the city's older, less reliable cast-iron water infrastructure, which is more susceptible to frequent, costlier breaks. The Water Department has replaced 107,000 linear feet per year of the older cast iron pipeline, installing a newer, more reliable ductile iron pipe in its place.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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