Managing a natural resource as precious as water for 1.4 million customers in an era of climate change is more complex and critical than ever. At EBMUD, we’re adapting to meet this challenge – today and into the future.
When Covid-19 emerged, no one could have predicted the countless ways our world would change or how long we’d face this challenge. Two years into the pandemic, few things are as they were before. But at EBMUD, we’ve shown up every day to keep the water running and treat wastewater before releasing it to San Francisco Bay. You’ve counted on us, and our commitment to you remains as steadfast as ever.
Recent rainfall and the prospect of more is cause for celebration. But we have a long way to go to refill depleted reservoirs. Our drought outlook greatly depends on how much rain and snow we receive in the next few months, and weather models indicate things could go either way.
Winter storms deliver the snow and rain we desperately need. But they also trigger surges in wastewater. EBMUD manages and treats these flows to protect public health and the environment, in particular San Francisco Bay.
EBMUD is on a mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable water for every customer. Yet, we know that living in the Bay Area is expensive and paying for utility bills can further stress families facing hardship.
Drought affects our services in more ways than just the water supply. Dry periods increase the threat of fire in our watersheds surrounding and protecting our reservoirs. Monterey pine trees on our watershed lands in the East Bay and the Sierra foothills are dying, leading EBMUD to escalate our efforts to remove dry vegetation that can contribute to fuel load during a fire.
September and October are among the warmest months in California, and they bring the transition from one water year into the next. For planning purposes, water providers across the state monitor the natural water cycle on a 365-day calendar that begins October 1, the normal start of the wet season. After months of drought, we’re prepared to make a big move in the coming months in case the next water year is also dry.
Drought – It’s a road we’ve been down before, and California is there once again. This water year marked the driest year in the Mokelumne River Watershed since 1977.
When the sun’s out, water use goes up, up, up. But it doesn’t have to. If you’re tired of maintaining water-hungry lawns, this is the summer to let your lawn go, go, go. Now’s the time to pull back on watering to prepare for a drought-friendly garden this fall.
