Year-to-year water use increased 4.15 percent in August.

The increase in  water use surpassed the city’s growth rate of 2.3 percent for the same time period.

In broad terms, that means water use per capita is exceeding the growth rate.

Last month had more days in excess of 100 degrees than August of 2022.

That said, the city in  both years was under water restrictions that limited outside irrigating to two days a week and banned the use of non-potable water for landscaping that did not serve a purpose other than as eye candy.

The city last month covered 58 percent of its water needs from Stanislaus River surface water. That’s up significantly over last year.

As such, it is helping underground water tables to recharge.

Typically the summer water use is split 50-50 between well and surface  water.

City leaders have voted to go back to allowing outside watering three days a week due to the robust winter snow and rain.

Technically — and legally — Manteca households can’t revert to watering landscaping until Oct. 19.

That’s because the municipal ordinance approved unanimously by the City Council on Aug. 16 to make that happen under state law requires a second vote and then a 30-day period before it goes into effect.

In the meanwhile, City Manager Toni Lundgren said municipal staff will not cite anyone that waters a third day.

An unless three of the council members flip their vote on the second reading of the ordinance likely to take place Sept. 19, it will be legal to water three days a week starting Oct. 19.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 24, 2023 revoked most of his emergency drought proclamations of the last two years.

Mayor Gary Singh — who gained council consensus in the first place to direct staff to weigh going back to three day a week watering — is also pushing for the city to explore ways to keep reducing water use.

In doing so, he wants options explored that can sharpen the looks of the community and improve the quality of life while further conserving water.

Among options he’s mentioned that are worth exploring:

*Significantly stepping up the city’s turf replacement program.

*Possibly ending all grass  in the front yards of new homes or only allowing low-water use grasses that are either native or  otherwise better suited to California’s Mediterranean climate.

*Using recycled wastewater for irrigating large expanses of parks and such.