water consumption – Markleeville Water Company

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!

Annual Meeting to Take Place at Library Park on October 2, 2021

Bring those hats, put on some sunscreen and bring those chairs too.

In yet another first for MWC, we’ll have our meeting outside this year at the Markleeville Library Park.

The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. and we’ll have the agenda posted on our Important Documents page prior.

Highlights of the meeting include:

President’s report by Mary Young
(including an update on the planning grant; and water production and conservation measures)
Nominations for, and election of, one (1) Director
(Steve Hibbs is retiring after many years of service so let’s give him a
great “send-off”)

All Members and Qualified Persons are welcome to attend.

We hope to see you there!

Limited Landscape Watering Allowed Starting Wednesday!

First and foremost, THANK YOU for following the previously issued restrictions and helping to conserve. You’ve done an amazing job!

Because of your efforts we’re able to allow for
some landscape watering starting this coming week.

A huge thank you also to Kris Hartnett, one of our directors; past-president, Steve Martin; and Buck McLelland, our operator, for their efforts in keeping things flowing. Be sure to say thanks or buy them a beer when you see ’em!

Landsape watering guidelines. Note that the plan recognizes full weeks only, that it resets each new calendar month and there is NO watering allowed other than weeks 1-4.

For a copy of these guidelines, a better understanding of the details behind this change, and other information, like contact numbers for questions, please go to our Important Documents page and download a copy of our Fire Related Mandatory Conservation Plan (under “Notices and Forms”).

Copies of the plan are also available at the Markleeville Post Office.

Stay safe, stay aware and keep conserving!

Thank you,

Your MWC Team

Ps. Big kudos and thanks to those Members who joined us yesterday at our Board Meeting. Your interest and participation is MUCH APPRECIATED!

Deeper Reductions in Outdoor Water Use May Be Coming Soon

Hello Markleeville Water Company Members

Thank you for helping get us this far into a summer of record drought!

Stream flows, our main water source, are rapidly declining. This means even deeper reductions in outdoor water use may be coming soon. The MWC Board won’t impose them a day sooner than they’re needed. But on that day, you will find a notice on your front door and the reductions in outdoor water use it calls for will be mandatory. This post is to let you know ahead of time.

Adhering to the existing water conservation guidelines may help delay or prevent additional restrictions.

If imposed, reductions will be mandatory. They will conform to the MWC Bylaws, and penalties for noncompliance will be applied according to the Bylaws.

A letter has been sent to Corporation members along with the July water bill with more information on water use restrictions.

The current water conservation standards and a copy of the letter can be found on our Important Documents page.

Water – It’s a Serious Subject! Especially this Summer

As you can see from the above image, we’re way below normal this year in terms of snow water equivalent.

You should have recently received our Water Use Rules and Guidelines, as a reminder to conserve, and most importantly as a reminder that we’re all in it together.

Your Board of Directors has had several conversations about our “water-present,” and future, and continues to discuss the subject and plan accordingly.

Members are encouraged to join the discussion, attend meetings and provide input. Please see our previous post for upcoming meeting dates and times and how you can participate.

In the meantime, we appreciate your water-conservation help.

It’s up to all of us to do the little things, and be good water stewards!

An Update Regarding Turbidity and Water Treatment

First of all we’d like to thank you for being water-wise and conserving where you can. Because of your efforts, our water consumption was down during the month of May!

Just before the Memorial Day holiday we were able to switch from well water back to creek water as treatment was again possible.

However, we want to caution you that due to variable and extended snow melt, turbidity may limit water production yet again, thereby forcing us back to well water. If that happens, we’ll let you know.

In the meantime please continue your conservation efforts and be sure to familiarize yourself with our Water Use Rules & Guidelines, which can be downloaded directly from our “Important Documents” page.

You’ll find it under “Notices and Forms” towards the bottom of the page.

Thank you!

Please Reduce Your Water Use During these Turbid Times

We are experiencing higher than normal turbidity in the water from the heavier than normal spring thaw and run off. Because of that, we cannot treat the water as usual in order to comply with the state turbidity standard, or Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) requirements.

We are therefore using our wells to their capacity to keep up with the demand. While we understand there is a lot of water running in the creek, until the “dust” settles, that water is not treatable.

We would greatly appreciate everyone reducing their water consumption during this high turbidity period by limiting irrigation, not washing vehicles and just being extra conscientious as to water-use as a whole.

As soon as we are able to regularly treat the creek water to state standards we will notify you.

Thank you VERY MUCH for your patience and cooperation!