Announcement Regarding California’s Drought Conditions

California is currently facing its most severe drought on record. On March 28, 2022, Governor Newsom issued the latest Executive Order N-7-22 directing the State Water Resource Control Board (“SWRCB”) to consider adopting, emergency regulations, including the requirement that urban water suppliers implement, at a minimum, water shortage response actions reflective of a water shortage level of up to 20% by May 25, 2022.

On April 26, 2022, Metropolitan Water District’s (“MWD”) board voted unanimously to declare a water shortage emergency and implement an emergency water conservation program. By Resolution 9305, MWD called on all of its member agencies to make all possible changes in their operations to reduce their reliance upon MWD’s State Water Project (“SWP”) supplies, and immediately implement conservation requirements, efficiency measures, and limitations in accordance with their water shortage contingency plans. MWD further implemented an Emergency Water Conservation Program that provides two pathways for affected member agencies, which include either (1) restricting outdoor irrigation to one day per week beginning June 1, 2022, or (2) complying with monthly allocation limits subject to penalties. Our region opted to the latter taking a reduced monthly allocation of imported water.

On May 10, 2022, the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (“USGVMWD”) adopted an Emergency Water Conservation Program applicable to 18 cities and 22 water retailers in the San Gabriel Valley, including San Gabriel’s Los Angeles County division. USGVMWD’s Emergency Water Conservation Program calls for reductions in water use of 20%, and limits outdoor irrigation to two days per week for its retail member agencies, including San Gabriel Valley Water Company.

On May 24, 2022, the SWRCB adopted emergency water conservation regulations, effective June 10, 2022, requiring San Gabriel Valley Water Company and all urban water suppliers to implement Level 2 demand reduction actions described in their Water Shortage Contingency Plans on file with the Department of Water Resources, and prohibiting the use of potable water for irrigating non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional (“CII”) sites. Level 2 actions are meant to achieve a reduction in water demands of up to 20% by limiting, among other things, the irrigation of landscapes with potable water.

In an effort to meet the above stated conservation targets, San Gabriel Valley Water Company has Implemented a Water Shortage Level 2 and is requiring its customers to reduce water usage by 20%.

If everyone does a little, we all save a lot. Help us conserve water with these helpful tips:

Outdoor:

  1. Limit watering your yard to two days per week.
    • Street addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8: Monday and Thursday
    • All other street addresses: Tuesday and Friday
  2. No more than 10 minutes per station, and no watering between 10 am and 6 pm.
  3. Fix any indoor or outdoor leaks within 5 days.
  4. Adjust sprinkler heads to ensure there is no over spray or water running off your property.
  5. Replace your lawn with California-friendly plants and save thousands of gallons a month.
  6. Use a broom or leaf blower to clean outdoor areas instead of using a hose and save up to 6 gallons per minute.

 Indoor:

  1. Fix leaking faucets and running toilets. Save up to 20 gallons a day.
  2. Fill the bathtub halfway or less and save 17-25 gallons per bath.
  3. Wash full loads of laundry and save between 15 and 45 gallons per load.
  4. Use a dishwasher instead of handwashing and save up to 24 gallons per load of dishes.
  5. Install a new high-efficiency toilet and save up to 40 gallons per day.
  6. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth and shorten your showers to 5 minutes. Save up to 25 gallons a day.

 

To see more ways to save water, check out our water saving tips page!

 

Link to California Drought Monitor: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA

Link to California Reservoir Levels: https://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/products/rescond.pdf

Link to FAQs about the drought: SGVWC Frequently Asked Question’s June 2022

 

THE DROUGHT IS SEVERE – PLEASE CONSERVE WATER

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