Wieder Will Try to Tap Citizens’ Awareness for Water Conservation

To encourage area residents to use less water, Orange County Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder will turn off an oversized faucet today, marking the start of Water Awareness Week in California.

The weeklong focus on water and its importance to California begins with an 11:30 a.m. rally at South Coast Plaza’s Jewel Court, where Wieder will do her tap number.

As chairman of the nonpartisan Southern California Water Committee, Wieder has been outspoken about the lack of awareness among Californians, particularly those living in the arid Southland, about the consequences of a water shortage.

5-Minute Reduction

At the rally, Wieder said she will ask Orange County residents to reduce their water usage by five minutes today to reinforce the idea that Californians need to conserve water.

Some experts have predicted that California may be entering a drought cycle similar to 1976-1977 when shortages led to rationing in some parts of the state. Last winter, rainfall in Northern California, a major source of water for the southern half of the state, was less than 30% of normal.

Water Awareness Week continues Tuesday with a ground-breaking ceremony for a new 10-million-gallon reservoir at the Mesa Consolidated Water District in Costa Mesa. Construction of the reservoir is a move to store more water locally for district customers in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

Breakfast on Wednesday

A breakfast, sponsored by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and the Southern California Water Committee, will be held at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday at the Anaheim Hilton Towers hotel to discuss county and state water issues. The event, featuring former Gov. Edmund G. (Pat) Brown and state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), is $15 per person and is open to the public.

As part of the Water Awareness Week, water-related displays can be seen at South Coast Plaza and the Laguna Hills and Brea malls. The displays include water-themed artwork by Orange County high school students, as well as professional presentations of new ideas and low-water use landscapings.