[Water_news] 1. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS - Top Item for 4/23/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment

 

April 23, 2008

 

1.  Top Item -

 

 

EBMUD may start rationing water if no rain

San Francisco Chronicle

By Meredith May, staff writer

 

Nearly 1.3 million East Bay residents could be forced to ration water as early as next month if rains don't increase.

 

The East Bay Municipal Utility District issued an urgent warning Tuesday that water levels are critically low and that its Board of Directors may be forced to vote for mandatory water rationing at the May 13 meeting.

 

EBMUD provides water to 29 cities and unincorporated towns in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, from Crockett south to Castro Valley and east to Danville.

The water agency said that although January and February were wet months, March was the second driest March in the district's 85-year history and April is the driest to date.

 

That means the Sierra snowpack, which melts into the Pardee Reservoir where 90 percent of EBMUD water comes from, is yielding half its normal runoff.

Last spring was also dry, about 15 percent below average.

 

The water supply in Pardee and in the Camanche flood control reservoir below it are decreasing.

 

Rationing could include restrictions on washing cars and running outdoor fountains. EBMUD board members could also increase water bills and limit outdoor watering to a certain number of days.

 

Ultimately, the board could set allotments for overall water use.#

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/23/BAIA10A9N7.DTL