Water Shortage and Drought Response

The Water Authority has plans in place to help manage demand during times of limited supply.

Water Conservation Measures in Your Area

What is our current water situation?

Thanks to improved short-term water storage conditions and significant reductions in the region’s water use, the Water Authority expects water shortages and mandatory water use restrictions will not occur this year.

Although the drought is over, California's water supply system is still in a crisis. The San Diego region continues to face significant supply challenges. Regulatory restrictions on pumping in the Bay-Delta reduce water supply benefits from wet winters. While the effects of the restrictions have been offset this year because of improved river flows and judicial orders temporarily easing some measures, there is still no long-term plan in place to settle the ongoing water reliability and environmental issues in the Bay-Delta, traditionally the source of up to 30 percent of our water supply.

SAN DIEGO REGION SUCCEEDING IN SAVING WATER

12-month period ending Feb. 2011

What is the region’s plan to manage supplies during water shortages?

Many water agencies around the state may continue to grapple with supply shortages in the future. To help the San Diego region manage water resources during times of limited supply, the Water Authority created a Water Shortage and Drought Response Plan. This plan outlines a series of orderly, progressive actions for the Water Authority to take in response to worsening water supply conditions that minimize impacts to the region’s economy and quality of life. To help cope with our most recent drought, this plan was put into effect in 2007 and was deactivated in April 2011.

In addition, the Water Authority has created a Model Drought Response Ordinance for its member retail agencies. The Model Drought Response Ordinance identifies four drought response levels that contain water-use restrictions that will help achieve demand reduction during water shortages. Member agencies can use the Water Authority's model to update their own ordinances to help provide consistency throughout the region on response levels and water use restrictions that may be taken to manage water demand. Now that the drought response levels are no longer active, member agencies will revise their ordinances to reflect changes necessary for each service area. Residents and businesses are still encouraged to continue efficient water use practices in the face ongoing supply challenges and the long-term achievement of a state-mandated 20 percent reduction in water use by 2020.

Member agency drought ordinances may vary. To find out which ordinance is applicable in your area, click here.

Model Drought Response Ordinance

Water Shortage and Drought Response Plan

Enhancing Water Supply Reliability

Member Agencies' Drought Ordinances

Reservoir Levels

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