The South Bay’s largest water district has declared a local water emergency, making it the largest yet in California to call for mandatory water restrictions.
With a unanimous vote, the Santa Clara Valley Water District made its local emergency declaration official during a public hearing and called on South Bay cities and local water companies to impose mandatory water restrictions.
Valley Water CEO Rick Callender said the region’s water challenges are growing more dire, and quickly.
"We’re seeing the perfect storm building up, and it’s right in front of us," he said. "The risks to our water supply that we don’t control are real, and from a staff perspective, we cannot recommend that we gamble, keep our fingers crossed so that we can obtain the many sources of supply that we’re not fully in control of, especially in a drought."
Among the restrictions the district is asking local jurisdictions to impose is a limit on watering lawns to no more than three times a week and a ban on filling swimming pools.
The ultimate aim is a 15% reduction in water use from 2019 levels, though district officials pointed out that those who have continued their water reductions from the last drought will likely need to make less drastic changes.
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