Water Supply Crisis

The San Diego region is experiencing an unprecedented water supply crisis. There are environmental stresses, including the ongoing drought in the Colorado River basin and reduced snow pack and runoff in Northern California. In addition to these environmental stresses, court-ordered pumping restrictions on the State Water Project have continued to reduce the amount of water that can be delivered to our region. San Diego's water wholesalers have already announced that they will reduce their water deliveries to the area. Since San Diego imports 85-90 percent of its water, these conditions put considerable stress on the City's water system.

Due to these circumstances, and the threat of further limitations on our water supplies, the City of San Diego has declared a Level 2 – Drought Alert. All customers now have restrictions on how they can use water. Please go to the Drought Alert page to see how this impacts you.

• Hardship Variance and Cost Recovery Fee
• Water Use and Drought Ordinance (PDF)

Recent Changes to the City's Emergency Water Regulations

On December 2, 2008 the San Diego City Council officially approved an ordinance revising the City's Emergency Water Regulations. The amended regulations are designed to improve the City's response in the event of a water supply shortage and to provide greater consistency with the Model Drought Response Conservation Program Ordinance recently approved by the San Diego County Water Authority. The new regulations are effective January 14. More...

• Report to City Council (PDF)
  

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