Concord – The Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) Board of Directors endorsed a Stage 1 water shortage level at its July 7, 2021 meeting and is now asking customers to voluntarily reduce water use by up to 10%. Water stored in Los Vaqueros Reservoir will also help meet customer demands this year.
CCWD has a contract with the federal government to receive water through the Central Valley Project (CVP). Initial allocations provided in April 2021 indicated that CCWD would have adequate water to meet all customer needs, which are about 10-15% below demands seen prior to the 2014-15 drought.
Since April, contractors like CCWD learned that much of the anticipated inflow to rivers from snowmelt was instead absorbed by the dry ground. In May, CCWD was informed that its water allocation was reduced and would only receive enough supply to meet public health and safety needs.
Due to the reduced allocation and to preserve available water supplies, CCWD plans to use water stored in its Los Vaqueros Reservoir in addition to voluntary conservation to meet customer needs. Los Vaqueros currently is about 77% of capacity.
“Our customers are efficient water users and wise investors in water storage,” said Lisa M. Borba, CCWD Board President. “Asking customers to voluntarily conserve about 10% is appropriate in a year this dry. Without the water stored in Los Vaqueros for drought supply, we would be having a different conversation.”
In a unanimous vote on July 7, the Board approved moving CCWD into the first level of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan which includes the call for up to 10% voluntary conservation. The Board also noted the water waste provisions adopted during the last drought remain in place and will be enforced to prevent any wasteful use of a precious resource.
CCWD has resources and rebates available for customers to reduce their water use – all available at ccwater.com/drought.
6 comments
Not going to comply with this for one second! I’m watering everything! Front and back yard, trees, my fountains, refilling the swimming pool, taking long and frequent baths … having lots of laundry done.
With the type of climate California has had which produces very little rain and drought runs for many years, the state has no business supporting 40 million people let alone a much smaller number. This may be the reason so many are now leaving for greener and wetter pastures.
Newsom came out with the same thing. Asking people to conserve water. Why? There has always been a problem with water here. Look at this:
California population by decade/millions
1940’s — 6.95 million
1950’s — 10.68
1960’s — 15.87
1970’s — 19.27
1980’s — 24.29
1990’s — 29.63
2000’s — 33.63
2010’s — 37.27
2020’s — 40.78
California has had problems with water since 1895 … when the population was much smaller. How in the world can the state support over 40 million people today? It can’t. With the climate getting warmer, the drought will last longer. No wonder people are leaving the state. Tired of fires, lack of rain, rising crime and overcrowding.
Wait until the permanent mandates come. And the excessive fines. Yet California will keep building homes with lawns, which force homeowners to keep them green or face HOA charges. What a wonderful state we live in.
There is no way that California can sustain 40 million people! No way! It had problems with 9 million back in the 1940’s.
TROY! Most people don’t live in neighborhoods run by HOA’s. Yes, there may be mandates and “excessive” fine. I can afford that easily. The state’s leadership allowed it’s population to grow to 40,000,000 and is now bitching about how lack of water is impacting that number. Too bad! Those running California should have stopped the influx! My people have lived here BEFORE California became a state! Let the excess population relocate to other states … or the states they came from. Today, people can work from anywhere on their computers. My lawn will stay lush and green, whether they like it or not!
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