The call for water conservation is about to get much louder in the South Bay.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District on Tuesday night will consider asking people to cut back their water use 30 percent. If approved, the cutbacks would be a recommendation -- the district does not have the authority to issue fines.
Asking residents to cut water usage by 30 percent is a lofty goal considering the district can't fine violators. However, the district's customer, the San Jose Water Company, which serves a million customers can.
"If a customer here doesn't heed warning given and we had to go the penalty phase we would work with the law enforcement agency to issue the penalty," said John Tang of the San Jose Water Company.
The district is currently asking for a 20-percent reduction in water use, but San Jose Water Company customers only managed to cut back 13 percent. Despite that, the company never pursued fines.
To meet a 30-percent reduction the company said it will instead focus on outreach.
"We are already reaching out to our top 100 customers who are the highest users and helping them use water more efficiently," Tang said.
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San Jose-resident Jerry Martinez has already cut back and is brainstorming about how to do more.
"Maybe instead of doing laundry one day a week I will do it once a week," Martinez said.
But some question whether a simple request to reduce water will lead to real savings.
"It will make a difference with some, but I don't think most people will change their ways unless there is a financial consequence," San Jose-resident Christian Bonner said.
