Disneyland and water restrictionse

[Donut23]

I have been watching and reading about the extreme water conditions in California. This week I noticed the "extreme" section has dipped down to the LA/Anaheim area.

I realize Disney uses reclaimed- recycled water but they use a TREMENDOUS amount. Natural dehydration of the water in the rides is concern enough but I have watched their nightly cleanup including washing down the streets in the park.

If things do not change I suspect water regulations will become more strict.

What will be the impact on Disney's marvelous flower beds and topiaries when you can no longer "water your lawn". Or the water rides when purchasing water is restricted.

Just curious. I'm sure they have a plan but Pirates of the Caribbean will be a whole lot less fun without the. ........ Caribbean .

 

[Geemo]

Last time we were there, Splash Mt was soaking everyone. Not just those in the front but the whole log!! I'd never seen the flume so full of water.

I like that Disney recycles water.

Geemo

 

[Donut23]

Last time we were there, Splash Mt was soaking everyone. Not just those in the front but the whole log!! I'd never seen the flume so full of water.

I like that Disney recycles water.

Geemo

Yes, I understand they use treated grey water for landscaping, for example.

My worry is eventually the optics will not be good.......California is dry and brown, people have water restrictions at home to keep water flowing to agriculture. How will it look when people are still coming off splash mountain soaking wet when then state has already announced agriculture in Northern California will not receive all the water it did last year.

Food price increases vs. Splash Mountain.....will it come to that?

What do you think.

 

[peterpanandwendy]

I'm thinking, with the millions (or billions) of $ that Disneyland brings into the California economy through hotels, restaurants, gas, camping, parking, property taxes, employment, etc, they are willing to turn a blind eye

 

[chrisaman]

I'm thinking, with the millions (or billions) of $ that Disneyland brings into the California economy through hotels, restaurants, gas, camping, parking, property taxes, employment, etc, they are willing to turn a blind eye

Agreed. It's all about the dollars

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I'm thinking, with the millions (or billions) of $ that Disneyland brings into the California economy through hotels, restaurants, gas, camping, parking, property taxes, employment, etc, they are willing to turn a blind eye

Here in Vegas we have had severe water restrictions, fines for wasting water, and incentives to replace grass with desert landscapes for several years but for the most part the casinos haven't had to change much. The Bellagio lake is still full, the Mirage lake is still full, the fountains in front of the casinos are still on, etc, etc, etc. When companies employ thousands of people, pay millions in taxes, and bring billions of tourism dollars into the local economy sometimes the benefits of allowing them to "waste" water outweighs the negatives of them wasting water.

I'd guess Disneyland falls into that category.

 

[Donut23]

I hate to be a Pollyanna. Is anyone else offended by this. I forgot all about Las Vegas.

We will be at DL to celebrate her 60th birthdays ( love ALL birthday but mine...and this year is a milestone.)

I look at photographs of lake Meade, I listen to friends outside Monterey, I read. There is no question this is very serious.

Personally, I would like to see Disney step up to the conservation table and be proud enough of their efforts to make a Splash (sorry, couldn't resist) about it to guests, press and State. Shame everyone else into conserving.

Be a leader, Disney not just a user.

 

[AndreAggie]

I hate to be a Pollyanna. Is anyone else offended by this. I forgot all about Las Vegas.

We will be at DL to celebrate her 60th birthdays ( love ALL birthday but mine...and this year is a milestone.)

I look at photographs of lake Meade, I listen to friends outside Monterey, I read. There is no question this is very serious.

Personally, I would like to see Disney step up to the conservation table and be proud enough of their efforts to make a Splash (sorry, couldn't resist) about it to guests, press and State. Shame everyone else into conserving.

Be a leader, Disney not just a user.

As one who is involved in agriculture daily and has seen the results of a severe drought in Texas, I 100% agree with you. While some parts of the state are suffering from drought, ag is still growing here due to the increase of farmers from California (especially dairies which require a LOT of water). Sure money talks, but Disney can set the bar for this. I would love to see some self-imposed water conservation. And maybe it's happening, they're just not making it publicly known.

 

[RandFamily]

The water restrictions in California right now are a joke!! They are NOT taking their water shortage seriously at all. Everyone is still watering lawns all the time. The only restrictions require them to have a cut off valve on the hose when they wash their car, and they can't use water ornamentally if it's not recycled. No wonder the shortage is getting worse! Coming from the east coast, where we regularly were not allowed to water lawns, wash cars or fill swimming pools during drought conditions that were not as severe, I'm shocked.

At the parks the only thing I've noticed was the waterfalls at DCA are off but I don't know if that is to conserve water or another issue.

I don't think we're going to see much restricted in terms of landscaping at Disney anytime in the near future.

 

[spellhex]

Funny enough, most of the state has decreased their water usage by around 10% in reaction to the drought. The LA-San Diego corridor is the only place that increased their usage, and did it enough that they've actually made it so the entire state increased water consumption.

That said, Disneyland has decreased it's water consumption simply by refurbing Finding Nemo (which uses 5 million gallons of water, or a quarter of what was spilled by the UCLA water main burst earlier this week). I do wish they'd do more, but I bet they both get exemptions and are willing to pay a "luxury tax" on water in the case that more severe water restrictions are put into place.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

The water restrictions in California right now are a joke!! They are NOT taking their water shortage seriously at all. Everyone is still watering lawns all the time. The only restrictions require them to have a cut off valve on the hose when they wash their car, and they can't use water ornamentally if it's not recycled. No wonder the shortage is getting worse! Coming from the east coast, where we regularly were not allowed to water lawns, wash cars or fill swimming pools during drought conditions that were not as severe, I'm shocked. At the parks the only thing I've noticed was the waterfalls at DCA are off but I don't know if that is to conserve water or another issue. I don't think we're going to see much restricted in terms of landscaping at Disney anytime in the near future.

Yes and no. I agree there need to be tighter restrictions, but the majority of the state IS conserving water. There is one area in the northeast corner of the state who hasn't and then the LA area, throwing the average where we are actually using MORE water. Let's not get started on the fact that SoCal gets their water from up here....

But I do think most of the state is taking it seriously and is doing their part. Those who aren't, hopefully will start after seeing it reflected in their water bills.



Source:
http://www.mercurynews.com/science/...nservation-efforts-failing-despite-pleas-save

 

[kirstie101]

Yes and no. I agree there need to be tighter restrictions, but the majority of the state IS conserving water. There is one area in the northeast corner of the state who hasn't and then the LA area, throwing the average where we are actually using MORE water. Let's not get started on the fact that SoCal gets their water from up here....

But I do think most of the state is taking it seriously and is doing their part. Those who aren't, hopefully will start after seeing it reflected in their water bills.



Source:
http://www.mercurynews.com/science/...nservation-efforts-failing-despite-pleas-save

Agree with what you said. Many of us our saving water. I live in Sacramento County and we have neighbors turning each other in for their lawns being too green! It would be funny if the situation didn't actually warrant it.

 

[chrisaman]

I hate to be a Pollyanna. Is anyone else offended by this. I forgot all about Las Vegas. We will be at DL to celebrate her 60th birthdays ( love ALL birthday but mine...and this year is a milestone.) I look at photographs of lake Meade, I listen to friends outside Monterey, I read. There is no question this is very serious. Personally, I would like to see Disney step up to the conservation table and be proud enough of their efforts to make a Splash (sorry, couldn't resist) about it to guests, press and State. Shame everyone else into conserving. Be a leader, Disney not just a user.

you should boycott disney. Shorter links for me

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Something everyone should bear in mind is that there is far less wiggle room than you think in the Southland in terms of water conservation. (Las Vegas is facing the same issue, BTW.) Residential and commercial conservation techniques (low flow showers and toilets, commercial brown water reclamation systems, etc.) have been widespread and improving for years in Southern California, including at DLR. In reality, conservation rates in SoCal cannot increase at the pace of (much less faster than) the rest of the state, because SoCal has had an enormous head start, already.

In terms of Disney, I'm not really sure what OP's point is, but to me it seems that there's an axe to grind. Not sure why. DLR is fully within legal limits for water usage and conservation or they wouldn't be operating, no matter how much water anyone may assume might be evaporating from Splash Mountain. The water rides are completely closed systems, and when they are drained for refurb, the Orange County Sanitation District treats the water and returns it to the groundwater aquifer and DLR gets conservation credits. (That's exactly where all that sub lagoon water went--right back into the aquifer.)

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Something everyone should bear in mind is that there is far less wiggle room than you think in the Southland in terms of water conservation. (Las Vegas is facing the same issue, BTW.) Residential and commercial conservation techniques (low flow showers and toilets, commercial brown water reclamation systems, etc.) have been widespread and improving for years in Southern California, including at DLR. In reality, conservation rates in SoCal cannot increase at the pace of (much less faster than) the rest of the state, because SoCal has had an enormous head start, already. In terms of Disney, I'm not really sure what OP's point is, but to me it seems that there's an axe to grind. Not sure why. DLR is fully within legal limits for water usage and conservation or they wouldn't be operating, no matter how much water anyone may assume might be evaporating from Splash Mountain. The water rides are completely closed systems, and when they are drained for refurb, the Orange County Sanitation District treats the water and returns it to the groundwater aquifer and DLR gets conservation credits. That's exactly where all that sub lagoon water went--right back into the ground--so I doubt DLR has to to worry at all about alleged evaporation loss for a long time.

That's true, but the same has been true in the Bay Area. We've been doing the same basic conservation up here for years as well. And even if SoCal can't conserve, they shouldn't be showing an increase. This is obviously the worst year we've seen in a long time, but we've been having problems for years. My point was more to the PP that Californians are taking it seriously and don't think it's a joke.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Hi Jamie! My comment wasn't directed at you, just in general. SoCal continues to grow. Could that be part of it, too?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Hi Jamie! My comment wasn't directed at you, just in general. SoCal continues to grow. Could that be part of it, too?

Absolutely. Much like the Bay Area (and even more so), they are a densely populated area per square mile compared to the rest of the state. In some ways it is comparing apples & oranges. And in some cases a no win - I read an article recently that a couple got fined for allowing their grass to brown by their HOA because it goes against the CC&Rs. So their choice was be fined by the city or be fined by the HOA?

It just irks me a bit when somebody says we're not taking it seriously (not you). I'm sure there are people in the state who think it's a huge joke, but most of us don't. We actually live in a certified green community (bought 8 years ago), new builds haven't had front lawns in years (helps that we live on postage stamp size lots, lol), we've had general water restrictions for years. I understand why the rest of the country would be frustrated; what happens here affects food prices across the country, but it will hit us the hardest. Obviously our produce crop is severely hurt (although not the first year) and more locally, our wine crop has been hurt. Our lake levels get lower each year which affects tourism dollars and local businesses. As does the lack of snow we saw in the Sierras this year. We have no choice but to take it seriously.

Hopefully the predictions of an El Niño winter prove to be true. We need it!

 

[ginodeyoung]

It irks me too. I converted my landscape to drought tolerant 6 years ago. No lawn, decomposed granite and succulents. I haven't watered for 4 years. I hardly use water in the house and take very fast showers, what more can I conserve.

At the scale they are at water features at parks need to be designed with conservation in mind in order to be efficient even on non-drought years, so there may not be more that can be achieved there either.

 

[Renae De Liz]

It sounds like for the most part Disneyland recycles and reuses a giant portion of its water. If so, that's great, and I have no problem with it. Hopefully the many other water parks, luxury resorts, and theme parks are using the same techniques as well.

I'm moving back to Cali and I've researched a little on the drought conditions, and I noticed a trend that there are to be more filtered ocean water plants created that would tremendously help the situation(there was recently one built up towards San Fran that can give water to a large population just from the one plant) So hopefully more of those get built quickly and help.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

SoCal continues to grow. Could that be part of it, too?

This is probably the biggest factor. I don't know about California but here in Vegas they say we've lowered our water use per capita by almost 40% over the last few decades but due to population growth we still use as much water as we did then.

It irks me too. I converted my landscape to drought tolerant 6 years ago. No lawn, decomposed granite and succulents. I haven't watered for 4 years. I hardly use water in the house and take very fast showers, what more can I conserve.

I feel your pain and that view is shared by most people in southern Nevada, we are 100% dependent on Lake Mead water but are only allotted 4%. We do what we can individually but as mentioned above we keep growing and even if we stopped growing and cut our use by 99.9% it wouldn't make a difference unless the big users (Ca and Az) can also cut usage, with CA having one of the highest growth rates in the nation I don't see them decreasing use anytime soon.

I think desalinization is our future.