The rainy season has finally passed and we’re now ready for sunshine and heat. In the summer months, water use can skyrocket as people turn to hoses, showers and pools to cool off.
As a public, not-for-profit government agency, the EBMUD $2.3 billion budget protects the East Bay’s extensive water system that serves 1.4 million people, and a wastewater system that serves 685,000 people, every day.
Water lines are life lines and their resilience affects our recovery after disaster. The Bay Area underground terrain is quite complex. EBMUD’s water lines are buried in bayside soils, which can liquefy in earthquakes; they pass through tree-lined hillsides, which are subject to landslide and wildfire; and cross fault lines, where earth movement can tear them apart.
Throughout history, civilization has withstood earthquakes, severe storms, floods, landslides and wildfires. Even when we are prepared, emergencies can leave us with little more than our lives. However, preparing for emergencies can mean the difference between feeling strong and feeling helpless.
The ground beneath us sustains everything we can see. We walk, run, and drive on it every day. Our houses, gardens, stores, and schools are all built on it. But the surfaces of pavement and earth block our view of what’s below: a complex, intricate network of infrastructure that brings water to our 1.4 million East Bay customers every single day.
This past year, EBMUD and partners in the Sierra Nevada foothills accomplished a rarity. Together, with leaders in state government, 37 miles of the Mokelumne River became the newest entry into the California Wild and Scenic River system.
The climate is changing, and with it, droughts can become more severe. Regulations that govern water supply are changing too. As a leader in sustainability, EBMUD is at the forefront of planning for an uncertain future by diversifying our water supply portfolio.
What would you give for a hot shower, clean hands, or a tall glass of water? What would you give for a clean kitchen or fresh water to brush your teeth? If you could turn on the faucet for another, would you?
We take our mission seriously – that means we need a skilled workforce to deliver water and manage wastewater in the future. While we manage our day-to-day operations, we also invest time and effort in building the next generation of EBMUD workers.
