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Statewide Drought Conditions Declared
Latest update: August, 2008
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Governor Declares Statewide Drought - June 4, 2008
California has faced two straight years of below-average rainfall, very low snowmelt runoff, and the driest spring on record for the areas in Northern California that supply most of the state’s water. In response to this escalating water situation, in early June Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a statewide drought.
The governor is urging water districts, cities and local water agencies to accelerate water conservation efforts. Some water agencies are already finding it necessary to impose immediate mandatory cutbacks in water use, while others are ramping up their water conservation programs to accomplish voluntary water use reductions.
Read the Governor's June 4, 2008 news release here.
What does it mean for Redwood City?
As most Redwood City residents know, our local water conservation programs have been in place for the last several years in anticipation of the inevitable drought, so our community is well-prepared to do its part to reduce water use. Additionally, Redwood City’s recycled water program is making a big difference already, saving nearly 150 acre-feet (50 million gallons) of drinking water annually, with a projected savings of 900 acre-feet (300 million gallons) per year by 2010.
At the current time, no water use reductions have been required by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), from whom Redwood City buys all of our community’s water. However, that can change, and it’s important for the members of our community to immediately begin increasing their water-saving efforts.
The SFPUC does suggest a voluntary 10% reduction in water use, which is a great idea for all of Redwood City’s water customers.There are many conservation programs that Redwood City has been implementing over the last five years to help the community use less water and develop long-term water-saving habits (see www.redwoodcity.org/conservation).
What are we already doing to help the community to save water?
For water savings in the home we’ve been:
- Implementing the 10 Gallon Challenge
- Educating people about using a water-saving Seasonal Watering Schedule for their lawns and landscapes;
- Offering our “Smart Home” Water Use House Calls;
- Providing easy-to-use “Smart Home” Water Conservation Kits;
- Promoting our Toilet Replacement Program, which has so far replaced nearly 10,000 old water-wasting toilets, saving millions of gallons of water each year;
- Letting people know about the great High Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate program;
- Signing up households for the Water Use Allocation Program which determines the average amount of water your household should be using, and sets the stage for providing a fair and equitable way to distribute water during a drought;
- Offering a variety of Water Conservation Education programs in partnership with our schools, to help kids learn the value of California’s most valuable resource, and how to save water every day.
And, we’ve been working with Redwood City businesses to help them save water with:
- Smart Rebates , for everything from High Efficiency Clothes Washers to Pressurized Waterbrooms, and from X-Ray Film Processor Re-Circulation Systems to Cooling Tower Conductivity Controllers;
- Large Landscape Irrigation Efficiency Program which helps large landscape managers to use water more efficiently, and save both water and money;
- Commercial Toilet Replacement Program , offering less-expensive ways to replace old water-wasting toilets;
What's next?
It’s clear that California is facing the most tangible threat to its water supply in over 15 years, and with all of these water-saving programs in place, Redwood City is as prepared – or even better prepared – than many cities to accomplish significant water conservation.
However, if drought conditions continue and we’re faced with a third consecutive year of below-average rainfall, we can expect that the SFPUC will implement its Interim Water Shortage Allocation Plan, meaning that they’ll reduce the water allocations to their wholesale customers, including Redwood City.
Depending on what that reduction is, then the City Council of Redwood City would consider implementing the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan. This plan (which is part of the City’s Urban Water Management Plan) can mandate specific water use restrictions, and impose fines and penalties for excessive water use - again, depending on the level of required reductions in water use. The plan provides for a variety of actions, from purely voluntary cutbacks to mandatory reductions in yard and landscape irrigation or even all outdoor uses, to the extreme measure of limiting all water use.
City staff and the City Council will continue to be very involved at the local, regional, and state level as the drought situation develops. We’ll be sure to provide the community with updated information as conditions change, and particularly if the water supply in any way becomes restricted or reduced.
It’s very important for everyone to do their part, especially when we’re faced with an impending drought. Please visit our conservation web page and see what you can do to save water at home and in your business – now, more than any other time in the last decade-and-a-half, it’s critical that everyone conserve water, and we’re here to give you the tools to do so.
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