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 The Order also rescinded two emergency proclamations from January and April 2014 and four drought-related Executive Orders issued in 2014 and 2015.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 Supply Status in Santa Barbara County
    Last updated: September 2020

    Water Provider
    		 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.
    • Irrigate before 10am or after 4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays
    • No excess runoff
    • All water leaks must be fixed within 8 hours of detection or notification
    • A shut-off nozzle is required when washing a vehicle
    • No washing of hard surfaces
    • Restaurants may only serve water to customers upon request
    • Irrigation during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall is prohibited
    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:
    • No outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes or turf with potable water from 12pm to 4pm
    • No runoff when irrigating with potable water
    • No use of hoses without a shut-off nozzle to wash motor vehicles
    • No use of potable water on driveways or sidewalks
    • No use of potable water in a non-recirculating, decorative water feature
    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:
    • Irrigation of turf, such as school yards, parks, ball fields, golf courses, etc., shall only be allowed before 6am or after 10pm
    • Exterior sprinkler watering of plants, lawns, shrubbery, ground cover, etc., shall be permitted only between the hours of 8pm to 8am during the months of March through October, and only between the hours of 4pm to 10am during the months of November through February
    • The washing of hard surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks shall be prohibited except where necessary to protect the public health and safety
    • Vehicles shall be washed only at commercial car washing facilities
    • Operators of hotels, motels and other commercial establishments offering lodging shall post in each room a notice of drought condition containing water conservation information. Linens and towels shall be washed no more than every second day for guests staying more than one night
    • Immediate fixing of known leaks, etc. 
    • All restaurants that provide table service shall post a notice of drought condition and may only serve water to customers upon request
    • Irrigation during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall is prohibited
    • The loss of water through breaks or leaks in any water user's plumbing must be corrected within 24 hours of the user's knowledge of that condition
    Cuyama CSD Stage I Statewide rules apply.
    Stage II Statewide rules apply.
    Goleta Water District Stage 0
    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:
    • Potable water may not be used to wash down sidewalks and driveways
    • Runoff caused by irrigation is prohibited
    • Vehicles must be washed using a hose with a shutoff nozzle
    • Decorative water features must use recirculated water
    • Outdoor irrigation is prohibited during and within 48 hours following measurable rainfall
    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:
    • No washing of hard surfaces  such as driveways, sidewalks, patios and parking lots, except where necessary to protect health and safety
    • No watering of lawns/landscapes in a manner that causes runoff and / or within 48 hours after measurable precipitation
    • Exterior irrigation is allowed only between 6pm and 10am for all customer classifications excluding agriculture
    • Vehicles may be washed only at commercial car washes or by bucket or hose equipped with a hand-operated shut off valve
    • Water must be recirculating if used in a fountain or other decorative water feature
    • Existing water levels may be maintained; pools may be drained and/or filled once every five (5) years upon application and written authorization from the District
    • Existing water levels may be maintained; ponds may be drained and/or filled only with District approval of written application; New ponds must be supplied by an alternate water source
    • Hotels, Motels, etc. shall offer an option of not laundering towels and linens daily and shall display notice of this option
    • Restaurants and other eating establishments that provide table service shall refrain from serving water except upon specific request by a customer
    • If repairs are delayed, water service to the property must be turned off to prevent water loss until the repair has been completed
    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. 
    • Irrigate before 10am or after 4pm
    • No excess runoff
    • Irrigation during and within 48 hours following measurable rainfall is prohibited
    • Potable water is not to be used to clean outdoor hard surfaces, with exemptions for dangerous substances and commercial steam cleaning
    • A shut-off nozzle is required when washing a vehicle
    • Restaurants may only serve water to customers upon request 
    • Using non-recirculated water in a fountain or other decorative water feature 
    • All water leaks must be fixed as soon as possible after notification by VVCSD


    How Much Water Do We Have and Where Do We Get It From?