FILLMORE : Report Links Water Saving to Weather

A report released last week suggests that the success of Fillmore’s voluntary water conservation program varies with the weather.

Figures compiled by the city’s Public Works Department show that during an unusually cool July this year, citizens used 16% less water than in July, 1990. But in October, with its unusually warm weather, consumption was only 1% lower than the same month last year.

While city officials have said that Fillmore is not suffering a water shortage, the city has encouraged residents to use less water by providing flow restrictors for shower heads and plastic dams for toilet tanks.

The city also enacted an ordinance against cleaning sidewalks and parking lots with water, which officials said has been enforced. But a proposal to raise water rates for residents using large quantities of water was tabled earlier this year because council members said the measure would be unfair to commercial operations.

“We might try more public relations to get people to conserve,” City Councilman Roger Campbell said. “But I would not support a mandatory program. We’re fortunate to live in a city with an adequate water supply, and mandatory rationing isn’t necessary at this time.”

The council will discuss the findings Tuesday during its regular meeting, but no action has been proposed.