12 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - For 1,200 residents in Western Marin County, the drought situation is dire and doesn't appear to be improving. At one of the reservoirs in Bolinas, the water level isn't high enough to reach the pump.
Now, the restrictions are no longer voluntary.
Customers will only be allowed 150 gallons a day per household. That's enough for one 15-minute shower. If a customer violates the restriction enough, their water will be shut off.
Local businesses are being asked to cut back, as well.
"For local businesses that have greater water needs, we've asked them to reduce their water consumption by 25 percent," said Jack Siedman of the Bolinas Public Utilities Commission.
The situation in the Central Valley isn't quite as desperate. However, water agencies are now warning of conditions similar to those that were seen in 1977 -- considered by many to be the worst drought in modern state history.
"If we don't get another significant rain event, we expect the current water conditions to be similar to 1977, or perhaps even worse," said Shauna Lorance, General Manager of the San Juan Water District.
She says her agency and others are already having discussions of declaring a phase three drought, also known as a water alert.
It would require a 20 percent reduction in indoor and outdoor irrigation for customers in the region serviced by Folsom Lake and the American River.
A decision on that drought declaration could come next week, when more water data is made available by the Bureau of Reclamation.
To reach News10 reporter Will Frampton, contact him at wframpton@news10.net.
To read his blog, click here.
News10/KXTV
