Can't wait to see the Atherton numbers.......

The information being provided by the water retailers and districts is terrible, and they should be taken to task for not doing a better job. In Menlo Park, it's not known how well the city as a whole is doing to reduce consumption, and then, whether there's a meaningful average reduction, or if there are some outliers (similar to Woodside) who are big consumers. The cities around MP also need to work together to manage the groundwater supply which for sure is going to be tapped for irrigation and is a finite 'commons'. Without improved and constant public feedback, and cross-city coordination, we're going to have trouble adapting. Correction: We're already having trouble adapting.

Have you considered the fact that Menlo Country Club put in a new golf course and watered it continuously?
That would explain the high usage in Woodside!!!

Seems like an outrageous amount of water. On the other hand, residential use is insignificant - California has abundant water, but mismanages it. 80% of California's water is used for agriculture, principally in the central valley. Almonds alone use 10% of our state's water supply.

Los Trancos is on a different water provider. Many residents of local communities have wells. How accurate can any of these figures be?

My goodness for such an intelligent group of people talk about the proverbial head in the sand!!!
1) Woodside uses so much water because the wealthy residents feel entitled to have lush green lawns and boutique vineyards and swimming pools and lush landscaping.
2) Yes, a committee sounds perfect. Talk about it long enough and do nothing and maybe the rain will come. Phew, that was close!

Gosh folks just admit it. Woodside is the land of "money solves all problems". The majority will continue on with their lush landscaping, pay any fines that might be incurred, maybe take a shorter shower once a week to feel good about themselves, and hope it all goes away. As a SM County resident who drives on 84 to get home everyday it is very clear that those precious gardens are not going anywhere. Don't worry, us lesser folk are conserving. We've got your back.

Yet, when we applied for a permit to use artificial turf in our Woodside backyard this spring, we were told it was considered 'hard surface', and not allowable due the amount of 'hard surface' already on the property (house and garage). We wanted to install artificial turf in large part because we did not want to waste water on a lawn, yet needed the open space for a variety of activities.

80% of California's water use is by agriculture and industrial farming. yes, everyone should conserve, but unless restrictions are applied to the farms (both cattle and big aggie), our water use will not change.

Don't complain to your neighbors, complain to the gov't and water use boards to restrict water to farms and businesses that have not cut back.

What else can you do? Avoid eating beef. Takes a lot of water to grow a cow, far more than other mammals/poultry.

Woodside is no more or less lush than MP/PA/LA/Atherton... no need to point fingers like old biddies.

Who is worse: Gordon, who claims to be the BAWSCA rep to the Council yet brings NOTHING to the council, or mayor Burow, who shows no leadership? A horse race.

"when we applied for a permit to use artificial turf in our Woodside backyard this spring, we were told it was considered 'hard surface', and not allowable"

This is planning/building dept error. Artificial turf has drain holes under its entire surface and actually drains down better than real grass. I suggest that you contact the Town Manager to get this interpretation reversed.

It is very hard to find any information on what reduction we, as Portola Valley residents, are required to do. I hear because we used so much we have to reduce by 35%, but it is hard to find a definitive answer on this. Does anyone know?

Pitting one community against the the other is not the way to fix this problem. We all need to stand up against Sacramento and cut water usage out of agriculture and fracking!

But please stop watering your lawn and just live with brown grass for this season.