California Water: Is Your City Planning for the Future?
Some sources of California water are safe and sustainable. Some create significant health and environmental challenges.
You might pause and wonder how safe and reliable your water really is. The answer depends on where your water comes from.
To help ensure that we are able to provide for our future water needs, it's important to understand who uses California's water, the challenges facing our water supply, and the many sustainable sources that water agencies could be investing in to secure a reliable water future.
The following graphs show 's existing water sources, as described in their 2010 Urban Water Management Plan, and the sources that plans to rely on in the next two decades.
Currently, the city uses an average of 12 million gallons a day, but can only produce 8.5 million gallons a day. The additional water needed is purchased and delivered from Northern California or the Colorado River. The City Council has set a goal of water self-sufficiency by 2020, so in order to close this gap between demand and production, we need to save water. The City is working on a Water Self-Sufficiency Plan to implement programs and activities to achieve the goal of water self-sufficiency. The plan will be available for public comment in 2013.
City of Santa Monica June 2012 Water Quality Report
Many Californians live in dry, arid places. We can't rely on frequent local rainfall to fill our pipes. Instead, we must turn to some of the largest water-transfer systems in the world.
Water may travel hundreds of miles and across state lines before it reaches our homes—making it hard to know how safe it is or how much environmental damage has been done to get it.
Our state is at a turning point. California's water challenges are growing and require real solutions. Learning more about where your water comes from can help you understand what's coming out of the tap and what actions are needed to keep it flowing for our communities, businesses and children.
Who Uses California's Water?
Home to almost 38 million people and some of the largest cities in the nation, you might think residents use the majority of California's water. In fact, city dwellers use only about 20 percent of California's developed water supply. Farming operations use about 80 percent of California's developed water supply.
Home and Commerce
- Among California's Highest Water Users (Coachella Valley Water District Baseline Daily Use)
- Among California's Lowest Water Users (Westborough Water District Baseline Daily Use)
City dwellers use only about 20 percent of California's developed water supply. Residential use accounts for two-thirds of that amount, while business and industry use the remaining third. In much of the state, more than 50 percent of residential water use is for landscaping and other outdoor water uses.
Some cities use water very efficiently; others use more per person than average. For example, Monterey residents use 58 gallons per person per day, while Fresno residents use an average of 300 gallons per person per day. California has made a commitment to increasing water efficiency. It recently established a goal of reducing the amount of water delivered for urban water use by 20 percent when measured on a per capita basis. Urban water districts are now required to set per capita efficiency targets. The graph to the right shows baseline per capita use in your water agency, as compared to high and low per capita use around the state. Is your locality being as efficient and water-wise as it could be? Learn about the methodology your water supplier used to develop their target by reading their Urban Water Management Plan.
In 2011, all California urban water agencies adopted new Urban Water Management Plans, outlining approaches to meet water needs until 2030. Many Southern California cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Monica and Long Beach, have adopted plans that proposed dramatic investments in water use efficiency, wastewater recycling, urban stormwater management, and groundwater management. These tools are expected to reduce the amount of imported Bay-Delta and Colorado River water used by the City of Los Angeles from 48 percent of supplies today to 24 percent in 2035. The development of these regional water supplies can reduce pressure on the Bay-Delta and other threatened river systems. They also save energy, make our water cleaner, and protect our water supplies from the impacts of climate change.
Agriculture
Farming operations use about 80 percent of California's developed water supply. California leads the nation in agricultural production, producing 30% more in cash receipts than Iowa, the next closest state. However, agriculture only makes up around two percent of California's annual GDP.
California's agricultural economy is very diverse. While some farmers and irrigation districts have invested in advanced systems to use their water more efficiently, half of the irrigated acreage in California still relies on less efficient flood and furrow techniques. Greater water efficiency on the farm can make our water cleaner, reduce costs for farmers, and increase the productivity of water used for irrigation ("crop per drop"). It will also help the state address our pressing need for new water supplies.
Where Does Your Water Come From? California's Primary Water Sources
Nearly all of California's major river systems have hit limits in terms of how much water we can take from them. On rivers across the state, there is growing evidence that draining more would either cause severe environmental problems or violate the rights of other users, including Native American tribes and other states. Meanwhile, scientists predict that climate change will make California 5 to 10 percent drier—further limiting water supplies.
The contribution of sustainable solutions like conservation and efficiency, on the other hand, is growing every year.
San Francisco Bay-Delta
The San Francisco Bay-Delta is an inland river delta formed at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The Delta forms the upper half of the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. About two-thirds of all Californians rely on this expansive watershed for some or all of their drinking water, but most water pumped from the Bay-Delta goes to big Central Valley farming operations. For years, people have focused on squeezing more water from the Delta to meet growing water demands. The price of draining the watershed has become painfully clear in the past decade: the Bay-Delta ecosystem, its fisheries and the state salmon industry collapsed, in large part because too much water was diverted; toxic runoff from farm fields has increased; pesticides and other pollutants get swept off our streets and dumped into our water supplies; invasive species have taken over; and saltwater threatens to creep in where freshwater has been drained. Protecting the Bay-Delta estuary and its fisheries and wildlife ensures that the cold, clean water that people need will be maintained. It also protects the jobs and livelihoods of fishermen and farmers, which is why fishing and Delta farming communities support protecting endangered species in the Delta.
Will This Water Supply Last?
California is draining our largest water source faster than nature can replenish it. The numbers simply don't add up: water users claim rights to more than 245 million acre-feet of Bay-Delta water every year—8 times more than the average runoff in the watershed. The Bay-Delta ecosystem has collapsed under the pressure—the state's salmon fishery was completely shut down in recent years, and federal courts and agencies have set limits on how much water can now be drawn from the watershed. This is not a source of water Californians can expect to grow in future decades, particularly when the State has estimated that climate change could reduce water exports by 25 percent by 2100. In fact, we must prepare to replace some of what we take from the Bay-Delta with other supplies. The question is: will we make the needed investments in alternative water supplies in time to save this important ecosystem and special place, or will we first destroy it and only then make the necessary investments in alternative water supplies?
San Joaquin River (southern portion of the Bay-Delta watershed)
Millions of Californians rely on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries for drinking water, but most of it goes to agricultural operations in the Central Valley. For decades we have taken more water out of the river than nature can put back in. For 50 years, we diverted so much water that the San Joaquin, the state's second largest river, ran dry for 60 miles, until NRDC sued and reached an agreement with the federal government and farmers to restore flows and salmon to the river. Quantity isn't the only problem; quality is too. Pesticide runoff from farm fields and sewage discharges from cities have contaminated the water with chemicals and bacteria.
Beginning in 2009, NRDC's restoration agreement has started to increase flows, sending clean mountain snowmelt through the valley towns of Fresno, Firebaugh and Tracy, and will provide a living river to support restoration of the river's salmon runs.
Will This Water Supply Last?
The San Joaquin River and its tributaries have too many users clamoring for a dwindling amount of water. The result of this excessive use has earned the San Joaquin the nickname: "the lower colon of California." The river gets its start in the snow fields of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but in some years, as little as 20 percent of the natural flow of the river makes it to the Bay-Delta in the spring months. Most of it gets diverted to farms along the way. Sixty miles of the upper San Joaquin River ran bone dry for years until NRDC's landmark agreement restored water to the river. The San Joaquin's low flows make the presence of pesticides and other pollutants more concentrated and threaten fisheries. Mismanagement along the Upper San Joaquin eliminated the state's second largest salmon run—a run which NRDC, local farmers, and state and federal agencies are now beginning to restore. A San Joaquin River that flows from the Sierra to the sea and supports salmon runs will provide cleaner, higher-quality water for people to use, but we must reduce diversions from the San Joaquin system to restore its health.
San Joaquin River Tributaries
Merced River
The Merced River is a 145 mile-long tributary of the San Joaquin River, best known for its fast-moving whitewater, its breathtaking waterfalls and its meandering course through Yosemite Valley. Untamed stretches of the Merced have been designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. Yet other parts of the river are facing serious threats. Below Yosemite, a significant portion of the river is diverted mostly to irrigate crops. Several diversion dams have blocked migrating salmon from their upstream spawning grounds. Restoring healthy salmon populations will keep the Merced flowing with clean and clear water for drinking, for recreating, and for fish.
Will This Water Supply Last?
The San Joaquin River and its tributaries have too many users clamoring for a dwindling amount of water. The result of this excessive use has earned the San Joaquin the nickname: "the lower colon of California." The river gets its start in the snow fields of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but in some years, as little as 20 percent of the natural flow of the river makes it to the Bay-Delta in the spring months. Most of it gets diverted to farms along the way. Sixty miles of the upper San Joaquin River ran bone dry for years until NRDC's landmark agreement restored water to the river. The San Joaquin's low flows make the presence of pesticides and other pollutants more concentrated and threaten fisheries. Mismanagement along the Upper San Joaquin eliminated the state's second largest salmon run—a run which NRDC, local farmers, and state and federal agencies are now beginning to restore. A San Joaquin River that flows from the Sierra to the sea and supports salmon runs will provide cleaner, higher-quality water for people to use, but we must reduce diversions from the San Joaquin system to restore its health.
Tuolumne River
The Tuolumne River flows approximately 150 miles from the central Sierra Nevada mountain range, through Yosemite National Park, to its confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley. Several dams block the Tuolumne's path along this stretch. A significant amount of the river's flow is diverted to the San Francisco Bay Area from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite. More water is diverted downstream at the Don Pedro and La Grange Dams, depriving the lower river of a substantial portion of its historic flow. The Tuolumne River is the largest of three major tributaries to the San Joaquin River and contributes much needed freshwater to maintain the health and quality of the San Francisco Bay-Delta flows, which are depleted when upstream dams divert too much.
Will This Water Supply Last?
The San Joaquin River and its tributaries have too many users clamoring for a dwindling amount of water. The result of this excessive use has earned the San Joaquin the nickname: "the lower colon of California." The river gets its start in the snow fields of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but in some years, as little as 20 percent of the natural flow of the river makes it to the Bay-Delta in the spring months. Most of it gets diverted to farms along the way. Sixty miles of the upper San Joaquin River ran bone dry for years until NRDC's landmark agreement restored water to the river. The San Joaquin's low flows make the presence of pesticides and other pollutants more concentrated and threaten fisheries. Mismanagement along the Upper San Joaquin eliminated the state's second largest salmon run—a run which NRDC, local farmers, and state and federal agencies are now beginning to restore. A San Joaquin River that flows from the Sierra to the sea and supports salmon runs will provide cleaner, higher-quality water for people to use, but we must reduce diversions from the San Joaquin system to restore its health.
Stanislaus River
The Stanislaus River is one of the largest tributaries of the San Joaquin River, and runs for approximately 100 miles from the western Sierra Nevada mountains to the San Joaquin River. The Stanislaus River historically supported a large population of spring-run Chinook salmon, which was destroyed by the construction of Goodwin Dam. In the 1970's the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed New Melones Dam, which is now operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Reviving the river's historic salmon runs will restore flows downstream of these dams to maintain water quality and a functioning ecosystem.
Will This Water Supply Last?
The San Joaquin River and its tributaries have too many users clamoring for a dwindling amount of water. The result of this excessive use has earned the San Joaquin the nickname: "the lower colon of California." The river gets its start in the snow fields of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but in some years, as little as 20 percent of the natural flow of the river makes it to the Bay-Delta in the spring months. Most of it gets diverted to farms along the way. Sixty miles of the upper San Joaquin River ran bone dry for years until NRDC's landmark agreement restored water to the river. The San Joaquin's low flows make the presence of pesticides and other pollutants more concentrated and threaten fisheries. Mismanagement along the Upper San Joaquin eliminated the state's second largest salmon run—a run which NRDC, local farmers, and state and federal agencies are now beginning to restore. A San Joaquin River that flows from the Sierra to the sea and supports salmon runs will provide cleaner, higher-quality water for people to use, but we must reduce diversions from the San Joaquin system to restore its health.
Calaveras River
The Calaveras River is a tributary to the San Joaquin River. Its flow is blocked by the New Hogan Dam, which diverts water to agricultural and municipal use in Calaveras and San Joaquin Counties. In recent decades, the river supported a small population of winter-run Chinook salmon, however the population was extirpated by the drought of the late 1980's and early 1990's.
Will This Water Supply Last?
The San Joaquin River and its tributaries have too many users clamoring for a dwindling amount of water. The result of this excessive use has earned the San Joaquin the nickname: "the lower colon of California." The river gets its start in the snow fields of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but in some years, as little as 20 percent of the natural flow of the river makes it to the Bay-Delta in the spring months. Most of it gets diverted to farms along the way. Sixty miles of the upper San Joaquin River ran bone dry for years until NRDC's landmark agreement restored water to the river. The San Joaquin's low flows make the presence of pesticides and other pollutants more concentrated and threaten fisheries. Mismanagement along the Upper San Joaquin eliminated the state's second largest salmon run—a run which NRDC, local farmers, and state and federal agencies are now beginning to restore. A San Joaquin River that flows from the Sierra to the sea and supports salmon runs will provide cleaner, higher-quality water for people to use, but we must reduce diversions from the San Joaquin system to restore its health.
Mokelumne River
The Mokelumne River originates in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and flows through California's Central Valley, joining the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Pardee and Camanche Dams block the flow of the Mokelumne, where water is diverted to San Francisco's East Bay for municipal and agricultural use. The Mokelumne River provides much needed freshwater to the San Francisco Bay-Delta, and supports a population of fall-run Chinook salmon.
Will This Water Supply Last?
The San Joaquin River and its tributaries have too many users clamoring for a dwindling amount of water. The result of this excessive use has earned the San Joaquin the nickname: "the lower colon of California." The river gets its start in the snow fields of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but in some years, as little as 20 percent of the natural flow of the river makes it to the Bay-Delta in the spring months. Most of it gets diverted to farms along the way. Sixty miles of the upper San Joaquin River ran bone dry for years until NRDC's landmark agreement restored water to the river. The San Joaquin's low flows make the presence of pesticides and other pollutants more concentrated and threaten fisheries. Mismanagement along the Upper San Joaquin eliminated the state's second largest salmon run—a run which NRDC, local farmers, and state and federal agencies are now beginning to restore. A San Joaquin River that flows from the Sierra to the sea and supports salmon runs will provide cleaner, higher-quality water for people to use, but we must reduce diversions from the San Joaquin system to restore its health.
Sacramento River System (northern portion of the Bay-Delta watershed)
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is the largest river in California, reaching from its headwaters in Mount Shasta to its confluence with the San Joaquin River about 400 miles away, where it creates the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta—the upper half of the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. The Sacramento River supports extensive populations of fish and wildlife, including Central Valley steelhead and all runs of California's native Chinook salmon: fall-run, late-fall-run, winter-run, and spring-run. On the main-stem of the Sacramento, these fish are cut off from most of their historic spawning grounds by Shasta Dam, north of Redding, which is operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Maintaining these salmon runs and the health of other fisheries keeps the Sacramento River flowing and improves the quality of its water for users all along the river.
Will this Water Supply Last?
The Sacramento River is California's largest river in terms of the amount of water flowing through its banks. Even though the mainstem of the river and almost all of its tributaries have been dammed, the Sacramento remains one of the State's most important habitats for native salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, waterfowl, and hundreds of other species of fish and wildlife. Some of these fish species, such as the winter run Chinook salmon, live only in the Sacramento River system and are highly endangered. One of the primary threats to salmon on the Sacramento River is lack of sufficient cold water habitat since the dams blocked passage to colder headwater streams in the Sierra foothills and mountains. As a result, water managers need to ensure that the reservoirs behind the dams contain enough cold water to keep downstream salmon alive during their spawning and rearing periods. But excessive diversions through the system threaten to wipe out these runs, leading to worsening water quality and devastating fishing and farming communities throughout the state. Respecting the limits imposed by nature will help us manage the Sacramento River for long-term use.
Climate change will also affect the timing and amount of flow in the Sacramento River, as the upstream snowpack is diminished and more precipitation falls as rain and in larger storm events. Scientists predict that these effects will increase the frequency and intensity of floods on the Sacramento River, and will reduce the amount of water that we can store for use later in the season.
Feather River
The Feather River is a large tributary of the Sacramento River, which it joins just north of the City of Sacramento. California's Department of Water Resources operates Oroville Dam on the Feather River, the largest state-owned dam in California. While the Feather River currently supports spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon, Oroville Dam blocks access to most of the historic spawning grounds of these salmon. A hatchery operated below the dam attempts to mitigate the dam's adverse impacts on salmon populations.
Will this Water Supply Last?
The Sacramento River is California's largest river in terms of the amount of water flowing through its banks. Even though the mainstem of the river and almost all of its tributaries have been dammed, the Sacramento remains one of the State's most important habitats for native salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, waterfowl, and hundreds of other species of fish and wildlife. Some of these fish species, such as the winter run Chinook salmon, live only in the Sacramento River system and are highly endangered. One of the primary threats to salmon on the Sacramento River is lack of sufficient cold water habitat since the dams blocked passage to colder headwater streams in the Sierra foothills and mountains. As a result, water managers need to ensure that the reservoirs behind the dams contain enough cold water to keep downstream salmon alive during their spawning and rearing periods. But excessive diversions through the system threaten to wipe out these runs, leading to worsening water quality and devastating fishing and farming communities throughout the state. Respecting the limits imposed by nature will help us manage the Sacramento River for long-term use.
Climate change will also affect the timing and amount of flow in the Sacramento River, as the upstream snowpack is diminished and more precipitation falls as rain and in larger storm events. Scientists predict that these effects will increase the frequency and intensity of floods on the Sacramento River, and will reduce the amount of water that we can store for use later in the season.
American River
The American River runs from the Sierra Nevada mountain range to its confluence with the Sacramento River in the city of Sacramento. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operates Folsom Dam on the American River, east of Sacramento. Dam operations and water diversions have significantly reduced native salmon runs, but fall-run Chinook salmon still make their way up the American River.
Will this Water Supply Last?
The Sacramento River is California's largest river in terms of the amount of water flowing through its banks. Even though the mainstem of the river and almost all of its tributaries have been dammed, the Sacramento remains one of the State's most important habitats for native salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, waterfowl, and hundreds of other species of fish and wildlife. Some of these fish species, such as the winter run Chinook salmon, live only in the Sacramento River system and are highly endangered. One of the primary threats to salmon on the Sacramento River is lack of sufficient cold water habitat since the dams blocked passage to colder headwater streams in the Sierra foothills and mountains. As a result, water managers need to ensure that the reservoirs behind the dams contain enough cold water to keep downstream salmon alive during their spawning and rearing periods. But excessive diversions through the system threaten to wipe out these runs, leading to worsening water quality and devastating fishing and farming communities throughout the state. Respecting the limits imposed by nature will help us manage the Sacramento River for long-term use.
Climate change will also affect the timing and amount of flow in the Sacramento River, as the upstream snowpack is diminished and more precipitation falls as rain and in larger storm events. Scientists predict that these effects will increase the frequency and intensity of floods on the Sacramento River, and will reduce the amount of water that we can store for use later in the season.
Groundwater
Nearly 45 percent of the state's residents draw from groundwater to fill their taps and irrigation pipes. Yet leaking underground storage tanks, waste from factory farms, pesticide runoff from fields and industrial activity have polluted groundwater with contaminants known to harm human health. In the eastern Tulare Lake Basin and in the northern, eastern and central Salinas Valley, about one-third of tested domestic and irrigation wells exceed the maximum contaminant level for nitrate, most of which originates from synthetic fertilizer.
A quarter of a million Californians already suffer from this groundwater contamination, with many more at risk. Nitrates have been linked to kidney problems, thyroid cancer, and a syndrome that makes it hard for babies to get oxygen. Many communities in the Central Valley have to buy bottled water to replace their dirty groundwater—at a cost of up to 400 times the average price people pay for tap water.
People often view groundwater as unlimited, and many officials have allowed farms and cities to pump groundwater at a rate that is far faster than it is naturally replenished. As a result, communities are now faced with steep pumping costs, declining water tables, and rivers literally being sucked dry from below. And when groundwater systems collapse, we lose a critical ability to store water underground for when we need it in dryer times.
Will This Water Supply Last?
Groundwater is one of California's major sources of drinking and irrigation water, yet there are almost no state-wide rules governing its use. In most parts of the state, people can pump as much as they like. Thanks to this free-for-all, the state has overdrawn our groundwater account—we have taken out more than nature can return. A NASA report found that the Sacramento and San Joaquin drainages lost more than 30 cubic kilometers of groundwater since 2003—enough to fill Lake Powell, the second largest reservoir in the nation. If California doesn't start paying back our groundwater debt—through smart management and pollution prevention—we can face grave water shortages.
Colorado River
17 million Californians get some of their water supply from this mighty river system, but we aren't the only ones relying on the Colorado. Six other states, several Native American tribes and Mexico also lay claim to Colorado River water. So many cities and industries have diverted water that the river now runs dry before it reaches the sea. The wholesale re-engineering of the Colorado River has harmed many native fish, several of which are threatened by extinction. In addition, the fish and wildlife in the river's delta have nearly disappeared, along with most of its historic wetlands.
Will This Water Supply Last?
The amount of water California can draw from the Colorado River has already diminished. California took more than our share of Colorado River water for decades. Now other users have demanded their allocations and California has reduced its diversions from the Colorado. At the same time, climate change is causing drier, warmer weather—conditions that reduce the snowpack that feeds the river. Researchers predict the Colorado will have markedly lower flows in the coming decades—the U.S. Climate Change Science Program has projected that the Colorado River Basin will likely face a decline in runoff of 10 to 25 percent by mid-century. That means the pie we must divide among other states and tribes will get even smaller.
Russian River
Many residents and farmers of Marin and Sonoma counties draw their water from the Russian River. It supports populations of steelhead trout, coho and Chinook salmon. But these fisheries have been harmed by water diversions, habitat loss, dams, agricultural runoff, and in-stream gravel mining.
Will this Water Supply Last?
We need to better manage the Russian River to ensure a healthy water supply in the future. The health of coho salmon provides a good indicator of the quality and health of the river. A recent precipitous decline in coho salmon in the Russian River watershed has led to the formation of the Russian River Coho Water Resources Partnership, which is working to develop a systematic approach to improve streamflow and water supply reliability in five Russian River tributaries. In the Russian River watershed, humans and wildlife compete for water when it is least available—in the dry summer and fall. The Partnership is working with water users, land owners, and environmental stakeholders to research and develop management strategies that ensure adequate protections for fisheries and sufficient water for water users.
Sustainable Water Sources that Keep Growing
While California is getting less water than in the past from the Colorado River and the Bay-Delta, new sources of clean water are actually growing. Efficiency, recycling, better groundwater management, and green infrastructure are becoming California's most promising water supplies.
Taken together, these solutions can provide more water than we ever exported from the Bay-Delta. In the process, we can improve our water quality, cut down on energy use, and protect against the impacts of climate change.
Counties, cities, and companies across the state are embracing this new approach, investing in the systems that will bring clean, reliable water to our taps for decades to come.
Landscaping with native plants reduces outdoor water use
Efficiency: Most Americans know that efficient light bulbs last longer, use less energy, and save money compared to conventional bulbs. The same principle is true for water: things like high efficiency toilets and high-tech irrigation systems allow us to do more with less water. Thanks to improved efficiency, the amount of water used in the city of Los Angeles is basically the same today as it was in 1970, despite adding more than 1 million new residents during the past 4 decades. California is a leader in the water efficiency field. It recently established a state-wide goal of reducing the amount of water urban areas use by 20 percent by 2020 when measured on a per capita basis.
Urban water agencies are now required to set per capita efficiency targets. The City of Santa Monica, for example, has set a 2020 target of 123 gallons per person per day, which is significantly lower than the city's 10-year average of 154 gallons per person per day and lower than the South Coast regional target of 141 gallons per person per day. While the City of Santa Monica could have opted for the regional target of 141 gallons per person per day, the City Council chose a more aggressive conservation approach to enhance its sustainability policies.
Re-Use: Anyone who has ever doused their garden with a bucket of dishwater knows we don't have to use drinking water for all our needs. Approximately 40 percent of drinking water delivered to our homes is used in our sinks, showers and laundry. We don't have to waste this lightly-used water. We can put it to outdoor use to wash our cars, water the lawn, and keep our gardens green.
Photo: Hillary Birch VanariaGreen roofs reduce the volume of stormwater runoff, helping to keep our waters clean
In addition, cities are increasingly using recycled water to keep playing fields green, factories running, and groundwater supplies recharged. In Orange County, the largest water recycling facility in the world—Orange County Water District's Groundwater Replenishment System—treats 70 million gallons of water every day—enough to meet the annual needs of 600,000 residents. The county uses that treated water to keep seawater from creeping into freshwater supplies and to recharge groundwater. The thoroughly treated "wastewater"—very high quality water that exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards—would otherwise have been discharged into the Pacific Ocean. Recycled water can also be delivered directly to businesses, residents, and cities to irrigate parks and lawns, and to buildings that use separate piping systems for recycled water and potable water.
Better Groundwater Management and Groundwater Cleanup: Much of California has a "Wild West" approach to groundwater; people often pump as much as they want and are nearly free of regulations on how they do it. As a result, parts of the state suffer from receding groundwater levels that threaten our long term water supplies. Improved groundwater management has the potential to provide dramatic benefits. Efforts to clean up contaminated groundwater can provide valuable supplies while also creating underground storage capacity that can be used to capture urban stormwater and recycled wastewater for use in dry years.
Rain barrels capture water where it falls
Green Infrastructure: Pocket parks, green roofs, grassy mounds, cisterns and other types of green infrastructure allow communities to capture rainwater where it falls—instead of letting it pour off streets, pick up pollution, flood sewage plants, and end up contaminating our beaches. Not only does green infrastructure keep our waterways clean, it also provides a new source of water. NRDC recently released a report that found that catching rainwater falling on rooftops alone could meet between 21 and 75 percent of the water supply needs of several major U.S. cities. Green infrastructure has other benefits as well: it brings welcome green spaces to communities and increases property values.
The Virtual River: When Californians needed more water in the 20th century, we found a river and built more dams. Today, all our rivers are tapped out. That doesn't mean our communities have to run dry. It means we need to invest in 21st century water solutions, like efficiency improvements, water recycling, better groundwater management, and green infrastructure. Some cities and counties have already started deploying these solutions as an alternative to hauling water from shrinking rivers and distant states. Used together, these strategies create a "Virtual River" that can provide clean, cost-effective, and reliable water to Californians for years to come.
How You Can Help Ensure a Safe, Sustainable Future for California Water
- Contact California Governor Jerry Brown and ask him to reduce diversions from imperiled rivers, streams, and estuaries, and invest in alternative water supplies.
- Stay updated and educated regarding large California infrastructure projects and planning processes that have the potential to influence water diversions and investments, and take action at critical junctures. If any of your water originates in the San Francisco Bay-Delta, keep up to date with the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, and how it may affect your water supply, your water rates, and the Bay-Delta ecosystem.
- Make simple retrofits to your home and workplace to help California meet its 20% by 2020 water use reduction goal. Installing water-efficient showerheads and faucets, modern toilets, and drip irrigation are all easy ways to help you save money on your water and sewer bill, and to help keep water in our rivers and aquatic ecosystems.
- Help keep California's water safe by supporting organic California agriculture, which sends far less fertilizer and pesticide contaminated runoff into our watersheds and groundwater than its conventional counterparts.
- Take steps around your home to reduce urban runoff and the pollution of our waterways.
- Get involved in your city's water planning processes. Attend public hearings and provide comments to draft plans. Read your supplier's Urban Water Management Plan. If you find something that concerns you, hold your local officials accountable, so they have reason to plan aggressively for a future of safe and sufficient water supplies.
- Check out the EPA's "How's My Waterway" tool to learn about the condition of local streams, lakes and other waters anywhere in the U.S. See if your local waterway was checked for pollution, what was found, and what's being done.
- Spread the word about this tool, and make sure your family and friends are aware of where their water's coming from, where it may come from in the future, and the environmental and supply reliability implications of their water sources.
- Join NRDC's California Action Network to receive email alerts highlighting urgent environmental issues needing your immediate attention.
Methodology
All data used to create the graphics above were derived from self-reported supply, population and per capita water use numbers published in urban water suppliers' 2010 Urban Water Management Plans, which are publically available on the Department of Water Resources' website. In publishing these numbers, NRDC does not support or oppose the individual methodologies employed by water suppliers to develop their projections, or otherwise endorse the accuracy of the information reported in the Urban Water Management Plans. These self-reported numbers reflect differences in supplies as well as differences in the methodologies employed by individual water suppliers in developing and reporting supply and demand projections. To learn more about the approved methodologies for communities to use when developing per capita water use targets, see the Department of Water Resources' handbook [pdf]. To learn more about your water district's plan, you can access and read the plans in full on the Department of Water Resources' website.
Data for suppliers' baseline water use and 2020 per capita use targets was obtained from the Department of Water Resource's April 2012 report to the legislature summarizing the status of the 2010 Urban Water Management Plans and the Plans themselves.
Note: It is expected that water use will vary by hydrologic region. Westborough Water District and Coachella Valley Water District are bookend examples of the general range of water use broken down per capita across the state. These numbers reflect water deliveries to people as well as commercial and industrial establishments served by public water suppliers.
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