Wild Water Adventure Park making drought awareness a priority

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Wild Water Adventure Park is known for family fun during the summer months. But they are taking their efforts to save water, very seriously.

General Manager Bob Martin said, "We've had to look at thinking there's gonna be a drought next year. So we slowly but surely choose what we lose and what we don't lose."

With help from landscaping experts, they've made the effort to let the less-used areas of the park go brown. The impacted areas are mostly along the outside border of the park. But visitors will also see dead patches of grass in the parking lot.

Martin added, "If you go around you'll see 30 to 40 spots in park we've chosen to not only let go brown but basically die."

More than a million gallons of water flows throughout the park, most of it coming from one of five wells within the property.

Martin explained, "We're kind of our own ecosystem we don't take any city at all."

The little water they're using on plants, goes to the trees and flowers towards the center of the park. And now, those plants are being watered by an electronic timer system: another drought-friendly change they've made this summer.

"We've switched over to 90 percent electronic," said Martin. "Just so we are watering every area exactly just enough to keep us as green as we can be without overwatering."

They've also recruited lifeguards and other employees to be on the lookout for leaky valves, or any excess water use. And there's an incentive for those who follow through.

"Every once in a while I will buy someone lunch," said Martin. "Anyone who sees a hose bib dripping that you can't turn off I will buy you lunch."

Visitors don't seem to mind the dead areas, and in fact, are glad to see they're doing their part to conserve.

Sanger resident, Karen Rios, said, "All of us are making changes with the drought so I just feel like they are living up to their responsibility. Just like we are, homeowners grasses are dying also."

Officials at the park say they will do whatever they have to do to help in the efforts as the drought worsens. And as long as there's enough water to keep the slides, rides and wave pool going, Valley families will have reason to visit.