Water Supplies Critically Low
EBMUD water supplies are dwindling, and if dry conditions continue over the next few weeks, mandatory water rationing may be required to safeguard the shrinking supply.
Current data shows the Sierra snow pack that makes up the bulk of EBMUD’s water supply is only yielding about half of what it is normally expected in runoff. Although January and February were wet months, there has been virtually no rain or snow of significance since then.
March was the second driest for the East Bay watershed and fifth driest for the Mokelumne watershed in our 85-year history. So far April has been the driest to date. Combined with last year’s dry winter, this has created a projected supply shortage that is the greatest threat to the EBMUD’s water supply since the end of the last drought in 1991.
Under our comprehensive water shortage response plan, if spring runoff continues to decline and projected water storage at the end of September falls below 450,000 acre feet, EBMUD’s Board of Directors will consider mandatory water rationing and drought restrictions to slow water use and retain as much of the supply as possible. A drought management program is likely to be on the agenda for the May 13 Board Meeting.
Future water supply updates will be provided via this website, customer notices and the news media.