By Alec MacDonald
The last 18 months have been exceptionally dry ones for the East Bay Municipal Utility District. This past January’s deluge notwithstanding, rain has been in scarce supply, and the district’s reservoirs in the Sierras have become significantly depleted. Headed into the summer, EBMUD faces a serious challenge in trying to conserve water for its 1.3 million customers across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. It projects that by the beginning of the new rain year on October 1, its water storage will likely fall at least 200,000 acre-feet short of the preferred volume.
Accordingly, the EBMUD board of directors implemented a drought management program at its May 13 convening, approving reduction goals starting that day. The aim is to achieve 15 percent savings district-wide, with different categories of customers asked to decrease consumption at varying rates (single-family residences by 19 percent, multi-family residences by 11 percent, irrigators by 30 percent, commercial users by 12 percent, institutional uses by 9 percent, and industrial users by 5 percent).
Also as part of the program, the following activities are prohibited:
•Using water for decorative ponds, lakes, and fountains (except those that recycle the water);
•Washing vehicles with hoses that do not have shutoff nozzles;
•Washing sidewalks, patios, and similar hard surfaces;
•Irrigating outdoors on consecutive days or more than three days a week;
•Lawn or garden watering that results in excessive runoff;
•Sewer and hydrant flushing and washing streets with potable water supplied by EBMUD (except for essential purposes);
•Using potable water for construction if alternatives are available; and
•Using potable water for soil compaction and dust control when another source is available.
On July 8, the board will consider implementing drought rates at a public hearing that is certain to draw great attention. Those interested in learning more should visit EBMUD’s website at www.ebmud.com for future updates.