In total, Sierra Nevada water imported through the Delta makes up half of Santa Clara County’s water supply. Mid-March announcements of increases to the water district’s imported water allocations from the Central Valley Project (CVP) have definitely improved the overall water supply outlook for the county.
CVP allocations make up nearly one-third of our water supply and allow for approximately 150,000 acre-feet of water annually. An acre-foot is approximately 326,000 gallons, which is the amount of water two families of five uses over a year.
The announcement increased our allocation from 55 percent of the contract amount to 75 percent or 105,775 acre-feet.
Allocations for the water district’s other imported source, the State Water Project, remains at 15 percent. This allocation could go as high as 40 percent, depending on the state’s next Sierra Nevada Snowpack survey results.
As a result of these increases to our imported water supply and the above-normal rainfall, we’re more optimistic that we’ll have enough supply to meet countywide demand. We are, however, still feeling the effects of a three-year drought, which is why we’re continuing with our message of 15 percent mandatory conservation.
It will be especially important to conserve water during the spring and summer months. As the temperatures rise, so does our consumption of water. We swim in pools, wash our cars, water our lawns, and cool off with sprinklers. This is why it’s critical that we all find ways to conserve water during these peak use periods.
According to the water district’s Residential Water-use Baseline Study, single-family leaks waste more than 814 million gallons a year. In addition, research has shown that residential water use could be reduced by as much as 50 percent through efficiency.
There are many easy ways to save water this spring and summer. If county residents checked for leaks, watered their lawn only when needed (generally once every three days), and installed drip irrigation for trees, shrubs and plants, their savings could be significant. For more water-saving tips visit www.save20gallons.org.
To help reach our conservation goals, the water district offers rebates and programs to county residents and businesses. For more information, click here.