Category: Water Conservation

Summer is Here – Please Remember to Conserve Water

Yup. It’s that ol’ annual reminder to us all to be good water stewards. 

Recent “repair fun” at MWC (as many of you saw from those posts) was a good cue that while we do have wells if for any reason we cannot produce drinking water from Musser and Jarvis Creek, they don’t produce enough H2O to allow for landscape watering.

In fact, our primary mission here at Markleeville Water Company is to produce water for domestic use (i.e. drinking water, water for cooking, bathing, and so on). It’s not to produce water for irrigation; that’s a side benefit.

For most of the last 60+ years that our little water company has been in existence, we’ve all had the benefit of what seemed to be an endless water supply. Nowadays, however, we’ve all seen the proverbial writing on the wall: times they are a changing.

There’s less snow. That’s expected to become the new pattern here in the Sierra, and so our “water bank” isn’t, and likely will never be, what it used to be. That change will have a long-term impact on how we manage our water resources – really it already has – and not just here in the Sierra. 

Since 2022 we’ve had these water use rules and guidelines in effect, and we appreciate the fact that each and every one of us has, for the most part, been adhering to them. THANK YOU!

As the climate warms, and familiar patterns become unfamiliar, it’s even more important today that we conserve when and where we can. 

Hence this annual reminder to continue to follow our guidelines, plant drought tolerant plants (or go with rock gardens perhaps – we grow rocks here too in Markleeville so that’s easy), be cognizant of landscaping additions, and use mulch wherever and whenever possible. 

Those of us who volunteer on the water company board take our jobs very seriously and are grateful for the opportunity to keep our water flowing. In order to keep doing that though, we’re counting on your continued support. 

Please remain good water stewards. “Represent” to your friends, family, neighbors, and renters (short or long-term), and stay tuned to our website for water alerts. 

Together, we can keep our water flowing for generations to come! 

A Reminder as “Official Summer” Approaches – Water Conservation Is Always Necessary

Part of this post was originally published last August and we’re bubbling it up 😂 again now as the summer solstice approaches (on June 20th).

While our rivers and streams are flowing nicely today because of the spring runoff, and lakes are brimming due to that same influx of H20, as summer wanes into fall those supplies lessen significantly.

Hence this little reminder for us all.

There are existing Water Use Rules & Guidelines, and they can be viewed here.

Some highlights:

  • There is a watering schedule based on even and odd address numbers.
  • Total landscape watering should be limited to 2 hours on days you can/do water.
  • Pressure/power washing, hosing down sidewalks, driveways, or washing vehicles is prohibited.
  • No watering is allowed on Sundays. This allows us to replenish our finished-water tanks.

For those who are not aware, our water comes primarily from the Musser & Jarvis Creek (aka surface water). We can augment that as necessary (e.g., high turbidity in the creek) with well water but that supply is limited and used only when needed.

In the end, as our Operators reminded us during last month’s board meeting, it’s up to all of us to be good water stewards and conserve where we can.

Thank you for your continued conservation efforts and have a great summer!

Ps. The image in this post is of the water falls/pools off the Charity Valley Trail. That trail runs between Blue Lakes Road and Grover Hot Springs State Park.

Water Conservation Is Always Appreciated

While the Water Company’s production is close to average for this time of year, our Operators are asking all Members (that includes the MWC Board and Officers) to be cautious and mitigate use as we can.

There are existing Water Use Rules & Guidelines, and they can be viewed here.

Some highlights:

  • There is a watering schedule based on even and odd address numbers.
  • Total landscape watering should be limited to 2 hours on days you can/do water.
  • Pressure/power washing, hosing down sidewalks, driveways, or washing vehicles is prohibited.
  • No watering is allowed on Sundays. This allows us to replenish our finished-water tanks.

For those who are not aware, our water comes primarily from the Musser & Jarvis Creek (aka surface water). We can augment that as necessary (e.g., high turbidity in the creek) with well water but that supply is limited and used only when needed.

In the end, as our Operators reminded us during this morning’s board meeting, it’s up to all of us to be good water stewards and conserve where we can.

Thank you for your continued conservation efforts and have a great rest of your summer!

Ps. The image in this post is of the water falls/pools off the Charity Valley Trail. That trail runs between Blue Lakes Road and Grover Hot Springs State Park.

Outdoor Watering Ban Lifted

First of all, thanks to everyone for helping out since last month and limiting your water usage to domestic use only. 

We’re happy to announce that conditions have now moderated such that we can lift the limitations that were imposed last month!

Outdoor watering is now allowed three (3) days a week as described in our Water Use Rules and Guidelines.

Landscape watering is allowed at even-numbered physical addresses only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, any time between 6 and 10 AM and between 6 and 10 PM.

Landscape watering is allowed at odd-numbered physical addresses only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, any time between 6 and 10 AM and between 6 and 10 PM.

Total landscape watering time is allowed up to two hours per day.

Landscape watering is not allowed on Sundays in order to allow our finished water tanks to replenish/refill.

We appreciate your ongoing assistance in managing our community water resources.

Thank you!

We’re On Well Water – Please Limit Water Usage

A message from Markleeville Water Company President, Mary Young:

Hi Members,

As you’ve probably noticed, stream flows are high now that the snow has finally melted.  Although the additional moisture is good news for the long term, the current high flows are causing problems for our surface water system.

Debris in the water, high turbidity, entrained sand, and decomposed granite in the raw water impact the intake and the treatment process. 

Because of these issues we are restricted to well water. 

And so, we are asking you to limit water use to domestic use, and NOT TO DO ANY outdoor watering.

When that changes we’ll be sure to post an update here.

Thank you for your help.  Working together we can all meet our domestic water needs.

We Weathered Those Atmospheric River Storms – Thanks To Our Wells, And Our Members

January was a month to remember, certainly. We have been on well water since December and thanks to you, our members, and your conservation efforts, and additionally, due to the fact that there isn’t a lot of watering to be done since everything is covered in snow or ice, our production remains stable and consistent.

Keep up the good work and thank you!

Due to the Storm We’re All on Well Water – Please Conserve

Due to the recent storm runoff we’ve had to switch from surface water to well water.

It’s likely we’ll need to stay on well water for the entirety of this storm, and beyond, so please conserve where you can.

We appreciate your assistance!

Outside Watering Can Resume Effective Monday, August 15th

We are now producing water and the tanks are full!

It took a bit of work to clear the mud, silt and sand from the system, due to last week’s thunderstorm activity, but that work was completed yesterday.

We do ask that members refrain from outdoor watering this week in order to give the entire system time to equalize.

Anyone in the downtown area that needs to hose down or power wash their residence or business, however, is free to do so.

Thank you for your conservation efforts over this past week, and for your continued efforts over the next few days.

Outdoor watering can resume Monday, August 15th.

Outside Watering Prohibited Until Further Notice

Due to yesterday’s thunderstorms, and the over two (2) inches of rain that we received in about an hour, we’ve had to switch over to wells completely.

Since this substantially lowers the amount of water available, our Operator, Buck McLelland, is requiring all members to stop outside watering until further notice.

All other Water Use Rules and Guidelines, posted July 23, 2022, remain in effect.

Those guidelines, by the way, can be viewed on, and downloaded from, our Important Documents page.