Current Water Supply Status & Drought Planning
Following unprecedented water conservation and plentiful winter rain and snow, on April 7, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. ended the drought State of Emergency in most of California, while maintaining water reporting requirements and prohibitions on wasteful practices such as watering during or right after rainfall. Executive Order B-40-17 lifted the drought emergency in all California counties except Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Tuolumne, where emergency drinking water projects will continue to help address diminished groundwater supplies. The Order also rescinded two emergency proclamations from January and April 2014 and four drought-related Executive Orders issued in 2014 and 2015. Executive Order B-40-17 was built upon actions taken in Executive Order B-37-16, which remains in effect, to continue making water conservation a way of life in California. The State Water Resources Control Board maintains urban water use reporting requirements and prohibitions on wasteful practices, such as watering during or after rainfall, hosing off sidewalks, and irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians. As directed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in Executive Order B-37-16, the Board will separately take action to make reporting and wasteful water practices permanent.
The latest restrictions imposed by the State are:
- No application of potable water to outdoor landscapes during or within 48 hours after measurable rainfall;
- No irrigation with potable water of ornamental turf on public street medians; and
- All irrigation using potable water outside newly constructed homes or buildings must be in accordance with emergency regulations or other requirements established by the Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Water Provider
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Water Supply Stage | Water Supply Status & Water Waste Prohibitions |
Carpinteria Valley Water District | Stage I | On May 22, 2019, the Carpinteria Valley Water District Board of Directors adopted Ordinance 19-2, lowering the Drought Condition from Stage Two to Stage One. In compliance with the Stage One Water Shortage Condition, the District requests a continued voluntary reduction in water usage by 15% to help ensure adequate water supplies for the Carpinteria Valley until supplies are fully replenished. |
City of Buellton | Stage II | In 2014, the City of Buellton adopted Resolution 14‐19, declaring a Stage Two Water Conservation Requirement.
This is pursuant to the State Water Resource Control Board's regulations declaring a State of Emergency due to
severe drought conditions. Residents and businesses are required to reduce water consumption and limit
outdoor irrigation in order to meet these requirements. |
City of Guadalupe | Stage I | Statewide rules apply. |
City of Lompoc | Stage II | The City has implemented No Water Wasting Restrictions since August 15, 2017.
|
City of Santa Barbara | Stage I | On April 9, 2019, City Council rescinded the Stage Three Drought Emergency and adopted a Stage One Water Supply Condition. With this action, prior drought water use regulations in effect under the Stage Three emergency are lifted; however, the City will continue to enforce its longstanding regulation prohibiting irrigation runoff and failure to repair leaks. Continuing conservation by the community to reduce water use is encouraged. |
City of Santa Maria | Stage I | These specific water restrictions have been in place since late 2014:
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City of Solvang | Stage I | In early 2018, City Council withdrew Stage Two and declared Stage One Drought Regulations encouraging voluntary
water conservation by all city customers aimed at a 15% reduction in water use from the specified prior benchmark year's average
monthly water usage. The following water regulations apply:
|
Cuyama CSD | Stage I | Statewide rules apply. |
Stage I | Statewide rules apply. | |
Goleta Water District | Stage I | On April 9, 2019 in response to an increased allocation of surface water supplies from Lake Cachuma the Goleta Water District Board of Directors lowered the Water Shortage Emergency from a Stage Three to a Stage One. Under Stage One, the drought surcharge has been eliminated and restrictions on watering days and times have been lifted. The declaration is consistent with the requirements of the District's adopted Drought Preparedness and Water Shortage Contingency Plan. While conservation is now voluntary, water waste prohibitions adopted by the State of California remain in effect:
|
Stage II | Stage Two was declared on July 30, 2014 with a 30% conservation. | |
Los Alamos CSD | Stage I | Board
passed ordinance on August 27, 2014 adopting State regulations. |
Mission Hills CSD | Stage I | Statewide rules apply. |
Montecito Water District | Stage I | On May 28, 2019, the Montecito Water District's Board of Directors adopted Ordinance 96, eliminating the prohibition on issuance of new water meters and bringing water use restrictions up-to-date and consistent with the declared Stage One water shortage emergency and current water supply conditions. The new Ordinance 96 repeals and replaces its predecessor, yet retains many of the water use restrictions included in Ordinance 95 that promote water conservation and aim to avoid unnecessary water waste including:
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Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District ID#1 | Alert - Below Normal Water Supply | On March 21, 2017, the Board of Trustees rescinded the "Stage One – Water Supply Shortage Emergency" and authorized and implemented a non-emergency "Alert – Below Normal Water Supply" status. |
Vandenberg Village CSD | Stage I | The District has implemented No Water Wasting Restrictions.
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- Where Does Your Water Come From?
- Rainfall and Reservoir Summary
- Historical Rainfall Information
- County Hydrology Information
What Can We Do to Conserve Water?
- Specific Actions to Take to be Water Wise
- Specific Actions for Renters (bilingual)
- Programs From Your Water Provider
- Help Your Trees Survive the Drought
- Save Water Inside and Outside Posters
State and National Water Conservation Resources
Links to Water Resource Information