Readers React: Californians care about water now, but what about when the rains return?

To the editor: It is heartening to see Californians recognize the severity of the drought, but winter is coming — and if rain comes too, public opinion may fall right along with it. (“Drought now Californians’ top concern, poll finds,” July 29)

As someone who has a graduate degree in communications studies, I know that political communication and persuasion scholars suggest that many people respond to poll questions by drawing on heuristics, or mental shortcuts. In this particular poll showing that concern about the drought in California is “extremely high and intensifying,” respondents may have remembered the immediacy and duration of the drought, the substantial volume of news coverage and stunning visuals of depleted reservoirs.

However, if El Niño hits forcefully and offers temporary relief, the rain may wash away those drought heuristics. Television stations will rush to cover dramatic flash floods, viewers will write off the drought as “solved,” and climatologists’ warnings to the contrary may be muted.

If El Niño fizzles, public opinion will obviously remain steady. But if the rain comes, legislators will need to resist demands to roll back sensible drought policies.

Nicholas Matthews, Long Beach

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To the editor: This article properly credits L.A. residents with cutting back on water usage by, among other things, removing grass and installing synthetic turf or drought-tolerant plants. Good for us. (“Keeping up with the Joneses’ drought-friendly yard boosted MWD’s tab for rebates,” July 29)

The three-day-a-week watering restrictions also play an important role. But the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power could do even more to reduce outdoor water use by — instead of the suggested eight minutes per zone — telling people to water for two or three minutes per zone.

This is adequate for most if not all purposes, and it could save as much as an additional 75%. I don’t know where the DWP came up with eight minutes.

Furthermore, in considering additional watering restrictions, plants will benefit more from two or three minutes three times a week than eight minutes twice a week. In other words, watering for less time three times a week is better than watering longer two times a week.

I have been watering for only two minutes per zone for more than a year, and my plants are doing fine.

Gerald C. Davison, Los Angeles

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To the editor: I am happy to read about the response to rebates offered by Los Angeles and the Metropolitan Water District for lawn removal. Those lush, “Downton Abbey”-style lawns from England are wrong for Southern California.

I find the bragging going on between neighbors over their yards’ drought tolerance especially humorous. I put in a xeriscape frontyard 24 years ago, and my neighbors thought I was the wacky new guy on the street.

As the article makes clear, now there are several homes without lawns.

Colin Irwin, Los Angeles

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