Admittedly, I have been very nervous about getting my first DWP bill since the mandatory conservation rates and cut backs went into effect June 1st. Going from not thinking about my water usage to being inundated with information on what, when, where and how I should be using it caused a huge shift in my perception of this finite resource.

No water flowing down the waterslide (somehow the kids still made it fun), no luxurious bubble baths, and dying grass are now our reality – along with the occasional holler up the stairs, “You’ve been in the shower too long! Turn the water off!” Add to that the heightened awareness over every leaking faucet, toilet, hose connection, and low pool water, and suddenly, brief water anxiety attacks have become commonplace.

As we live with the dead lawns, the heightened ability to hear water running, and the final realization that “Oh my God” we actually do live in a desert, I am flummoxed and fascinated that surrounding counties are not experiencing the same reality as Angelenos. I have witnessed lush green grass, flowing fountains, wet clean concrete and (gasp!) overflowing bubble baths in all other areas of the southland. Water envy takes coveting thy neighbors’ goods to a whole new level.

But the coveting came to a halt when I opened my bill. It was the lowest my DWP bill has ever been in the ten summers I have spent in my home. Last year, during a 59 day summer billing period, our daily average water usage was 1,762 gallons. This year the same 59 days had a daily average of 431 gallons. Seriously, that’s 25% of what we used last year. A 75% decrease! You’d think there’d be some sort of credit bonus for that, but no, just a much smaller bill than normal. And with my tight budget, this was the first time in a long time I smiled and celebrated a bill (while it was not a 75% decrease in my bill’s total due, the bill was significantly smaller than I had expected or anticipated).

So, does this make me want to loosen up on my conservation? No. Rather, it makes me proud that my kids and I have found a way to work within it – cutting deeply our usage and not having suffered in any way for it. Sacrifices, sure (did I mention the bubble baths?). But as we are all heading toward conservation of our finite resources and someday as a community and individually toward sustainability, it motivates us to do more. So with the money not spent on a green lawn and flowing waterslide this summer, we are talking about starting our own vegetable garden. Which will help sustain our family in more ways than one.