Drought is Here

 

Snowpack Down to 38%

In April 2022, water officials surveyed snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Rather than standing on 5 feet of snowpack, they were standing on dry ground. Warm days melted snow faster than expected. On April 1, this important source of water was down to 38% of average and is dropping daily. Snowpack is important because it provides about 30 percent of the water Californians use after it melts and flows into rivers and reservoirs.

Do Your Part to Conserve!

Climate change is here to stay. Weather extremes brought on by climate change have reduced California’s water supply since warmer temperatures reduce the amount of precipitation (rain) that fills our streams, lakes, reservoirs and aquifers. In drier seasons, California relies on these sources of water. 

But California is now facing a historic level of dryness that has gone on for 3 years. And it’s only getting worse: 2022 had the driest January, February, and March in over 100 years! 

 

We are in a third year of drought and need to use less water.

 

The severity of the drought put us in a state of emergency last year and Governor Newsom asked for a voluntary 15 percent reduction in water use statewide. But Californians haven’t done enough to conserve. Since July 2021, the state has cut its overall water use by just 3.7%, woefully short of Newsom’s 15% goal. 

It’s no surprise that Governor Newsom has urged water agencies to “take more aggressive actions” and increase enforcement to prevent wasteful water use. As a result, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted regulation requiring water suppliers to implement conservation actions under Level 2 of their Water Shortage Contingency Plans, including sharp restrictions on landscape watering. 

 

What does this mean to Santa Ana residents? 

Each water agency has its own measures and target based on how well they’ve saved water in recent years. Since the 2015 drought, Santa Ana has made conservation a way of life and our water consumption continues to remain lower than it was in 2014. Nevertheless, we need to be mindful of the water supply throughout the state and do our part to protect our local water reserves. We are asking Santa Ana residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce their water use.  

Santa Ana’s water reduction actions for a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage, adopted by City Council resolution on June 7, 2022, limits outdoor watering to two days a week and only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. It also reduces the time to repair leaks to within 48 hours of notification by the City. 

Here, you’ll read about these revised requirements for Santa Ana residents and businesses, which prohibit wasteful practices. You will also learn about the easiest ways to reduce your water consumption so we can do our part to conserve water.