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.
The pandemic has underscored the importance of EBMUD’s role in safeguarding public health with every hand wash and every flush. EBMUD, a not-for-profit public agency, supports your East Bay water and wastewater systems with a budget and rates designed to protect public health and infrastructure.
Your water dollars are working hard to provide high-quality drinking water, while your and wastewater dollars protect the environment and public health.
Researchers have long known that wastewater can provide a window into the health of the community. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, researchers across the country quickly mobilized and partnered with wastewater agencies including EBMUD.
In the same way that we strive to serve communities with high-quality water and wastewater services, we’re putting forth a plan, full of hard work and vision, to be the change we want to see in our society.
We miss you! The days of chatting with customers at community fairs, visiting classrooms, and providing facility tours are on hold for now. Until we can gather again (and we hope to soon), we’ve developed new ways to stay connected online.
Last year, EBMUD’s Board of Directors approved a plan to be carbon neutral for water operations by 2030 — 10 years ahead of the previous target. Our mission begins with this statement: To manage the natural resources with which the District is entrusted. We keep that promise with bold actions to reduce emissions, recover resources and rethink how we operate.
