Shortage Stages



	CURRENT CONDITION: STAGE 1 SHORTAGE

	The District has been operating under a Stage 1 Water Shortage since July 2009, asking customers to voluntarily reduce their water use by 20 percent. The Board of Directors took this step after three years of drought and pumping restrictions in the Delta significantly reduced the amount of State Water Project water available to our area. Delivery restrictions are continuing despite improved precipitation in the past two years. Read more about current water rates Read more about current conditions affecting our water supply

	WHAT HAPPENS IN EACH WATER SHORTAGE STAGE?

	The California Water Code requires public agencies to implement a water conservation plan that outlines how they will use water efficiently, both in normal supply conditions and during water shortages. The District’s plan identifies conservation measures for each situation and the restrictions and penalties the District would consider implementing during four stages of progressively serious shortage. Stage 1: There is a reasonable probability that, in the next few years, the water supply will not be adequate to meet all demands. District managers think we can deliver all the water our customers want, but we want our customers’ help to be sure there is an adequate supply. Stage 2: There is a reasonable probability that the water supply may not be adequate to meet all customer demands within the next year. The District likely would adopt conservation measures such as odd/even watering days, but would decide at the time whether the measures should be voluntary or mandatory. Stage 3: The District has reached a firm conclusion that the water supply will not be adequate to meet customers’ demands in the current year. Conservation measures and restrictions would be mandatory. Stage 4: If previous measures have not reduced water use enough to maintain an adequate supply for health and safety, or when new events require even greater conservation, the District declares a Stage 4 Water Shortage. Read the Water Shortage Contingency and Drought Plan

	WATER WISE DISTRICT OPERATIONS

	By the year 2020, California’s urban water agencies must have reduced potable water consumption by 20 percent per person. We are already meeting that goal and are doing our part to keep reducing demand and optimizing supplies. Our track record is among the best in the state in minimizing system water losses. We continuously analyze unaccounted water to eliminate waste. We produced 714 million gallons of recycled water in 2010 that was used for irrigation at 224 locations in Dublin and San Ramon. This saved enough drinking water to meet the annual needs of about 6,075 homes. In 2011, we received state and federal grants to begin extending the recycled water system to locations in central Dublin. The District has taken a leading role in developing California’s statewide recycled water policy that protects water quality while encouraging efficient water reuse. In cooperation with our wholesale supplier, Zone 7 Water Agency, and the California Urban Water Conservation Council, we offer rebates to help customers install high efficiency toilets and clothes washers, replace thirsty lawns with water-efficient landscaping, and replace sprinkler timers with “smart” controllers that adjust watering schedules as the weather changes. The District also offers free aerators, showerheads, and other water-saving devices to all customers. After completing a comprehensive rate study, the District restructured water rates in 2009 to encourage conservation and recover the cost of operating a safe and efficient water system even when consumption falls. In 2011, we updated our Urban Water Management Plan, a comprehensive report produced every five years. The plan analyzes the reliability of our water supply and the results of demand management measures.

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