Water Reliability

Unfortunately, San Diego, like other Southern California cities, has entered a perilous era in which drought and judicial rulings have significantly reduced the reliability of water sources, potentially harming our economy and quality of life.

Since taking office, Mayor Sanders has been working at every level to improve long-term water reliability for our City. He has urged San Diegans to prepare for a future where water is no longer taken for granted. He has asked everyone to carefully examine how they use water, and to eliminate practices that waste it.

At the mayor’s request, the City Council in 2009 enacted a Level 2 Drought Alert Condition for San Diego, which put in place mandatory water use restrictions and year-round prohibitions on water waste.

Since these new restrictions went into place on June 1, 2009, San Diegans have responded positively (PDF). Citywide water consumption dropped 13.9 percent in July 2009, compared to July 2008. For City of San Diego departments, the reduction is even greater - down 19 percent in July 2009, compared to the same month a year earlier.

There is still much more to do to ensure water reliability for San Diego.

Our region needs a secure commitment from the state for a new means of conveying water out of the Sacramento Delta and into local water systems. We need to continue looking for opportunities to purchase additional water rights and to expand our exploration of ground water resources available in the City. We also need to work side-by-side with other agencies and the private sector engaged in expanding desalination and water reclamation options.

The City has posted information about the need to improve water reliability on its website, www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation/drought. Information about the City’s water conservation program and what we can do to cut back our own water use can be found there as well or by calling the Water Department at (619) 515-3500.