It takes a lot of electricity to treat water and then pump it through our mountainous area to your home. More electricity goes into processing wastewater you send down the drain. As a result, every time you save water—you also save energy.

Summertime brings with it peak demand for electrical power, as we turn to air conditioning and other hot-weather uses. While no one expects a repeat of the frequent blackouts that once ran throughout California, each of us can help to avoid overloads on the electric grid, with an added benefit of helping the water distribution system.

LVMWD is doing its part to save energy. As part of our operations, we concentrate pumping activities to periods of off-peak power use. Storage tanks are refilled overnight, when demand for water and power is lowest. Operating changes are made at our wastewater treatment facility to reduce power loads during periods of peak usages. These changes help to reduce peak demand on the power system and also reduce costs.

Should the worst happen and electrical power is reduced or lost in our area, LVMWD has backup generators to assure water delivery and treatment processes can continue. Our generators are regularly monitored and tested, to ensure their readiness on short notice.

You can help by shifting power and water consuming activities, like running the washing machine or dishwasher, to late in the evening or early in the morning. This will reduce demand on both systems, assisting our region, helping all Californians, and saving your money!

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