Cutting back on water use is no longer voluntary for residents of Santa Clara County.
Amid the scorching drought, water reservoirs in the South Bay are approaching alarmingly low levels. Many of the county’s major water sources are 80% dry, inspiring mandatory water restrictions across the area.
"Coyote (reservoir) is at 21% and Lexington (reservoir) is at 23%," Gary Kremen, Vice Chair of Valley Waters, told KCBS Radio.
Valley Water operates 10 reservoirs in Santa Clara County. Their biggest reservoir, Anderson Lake, is down to 3% due to a seismic retrofit project, Kremen said.
"What it means is that we are in a very bad situation," he warned. "It’s not just some normal drought."
In response to these staggeringly low numbers, the normal request for residents to conserve water has switched to a requirement.
A spokesman for San Jose Water told KCBS Radio that 15% cutbacks are now mandatory.
"We’re hoping that together we can all reach our goal by the end of August," she said. "If not, as I mentioned, there is that possibility that there could be the imposition of drought surcharges if required by the California Public Utilities Commission."
According to water conservation officials, the biggest thing customers can do to help is to reduce outdoor water use.
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