Alameda County Water District readies for extended Water Supply shortages

India Post News Service

FREMONT, Calif.: As the state struggles with worsening drought, Alameda County Water District continues to manage existing supplies and prepare for extended water supply shortages while assisting its customers with conservation.

The water district serving residents and businesses in Fremont, Newark and Union City has drought strategies and readied itself for drought with short and long-term water supply planning. ACWD will meet water demands this year by drawing on stored water while encouraging customers to conserve, given the increasingly bleak outlook of prolonged drought conditions.

Planning for the current dry year supplies began in 2020 leveraging San Luis Reservoir and a groundwater bank in Kern County to help offset reductions in other imported water supplies.

With two consecutive dry years and drier conditions and high temperatures anticipated, ACWD is maximizing its available options and banking supplies for future use as California reservoirs continue to dip to record-breaking lows.

“We are experienced at managing our water supplies during drought,” said ACWD General Manager Ed Stevenson. “Planning for dry years and storing water during wet ones, is factored into our water supply management, as well as planning for supply reductions and climate change,” he added. Stevenson noted the agency’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan and Urban Water Management Plan as guiding documents that outline actions and water use reductions that would be applied based on changing water supply conditions.

“We are closely monitoring water supply and demands with modeling that includes varied supply scenarios and long-range weather forecasting and will continue to manage supplies carefully,” Stevenson said. “However, this severe drought may very well be a protracted one and increasing water conservation measures may become necessary,” said Stevenson.

With most of California in extreme to exceptional drought, including 50 counties throughout the state, Governor Newsom’s July 8 Emergency Proclamation calls on all Californians for 15% voluntary conservation. Newsom recently stated mandatory statewide restrictions may be coming soon as we enter a potentially third dry year.

“Our customers take action when there’s a call for conservation; reductions during the last drought prove this,” said ACWD Board President Aziz Akbari. “ACWD supports the State’s call for conservation and encourages our customers to conserve water now,” he said. “ACWD’s ‘One Saves Water’ program offers easy tips to help customers save 15% – irrigate one less day per week and have each person in the home reduce flushes and shower times,” he said. “Let’s work together as one California to save water for tomorrow.”

Simple actions will help customers realize immediate conservation. For example, water “hacks” to start instant savings include one less of each: car wash, load of laundry, hosing down sidewalks, and faucet leaks.

ACWD offers free water conservation kits with low-flow devices and toilet leak detection tablets to help spot pesky water waste for customers looking to advance their conservation.

For long-term conservation, residential and business customers can take advantage of rebates. Say goodbye to water-thirsty lawns and pocket up to $2 per square foot of turf replaced. Other incentives include “smart” irrigation controllers and business customers can receive cash back when installing high-efficiency toilets and urinals.

For more information on drought and water conservation, visit acwd.org/drought.