Nearly 20% of California water agencies could see shortages if drought persists, state report shows
A state report prepared for the California Public Water Commission in October is predicting that up to 1.4 million people in the western part of the state may face water shortages during the 2019-20 water year.
The report, prepared by the Department of Water Resources, calls for up to 1.4 million people in Tulare, Kings and Kern counties to be advised to take water from their wells or cisterns immediately by March 25 if the average rainfall from January to June is below 40 inches.
And those who have previously taken water from their wells or cisterns will need to do so this year before March 25, the report says.
The shortage alerts will include those who have not taken water from their wells in at least three years, and have “severe” water restrictions in place. The report says there is no need to take water from your cisterns. Cisterns “have been removed from conservation areas, and therefore do not represent an imminent water shortage.”
“This report is the result of intensive work over more than two years by more than 100 water conservation specialists, supported by hundreds of local, national and international organizations,” said the report, authored by John Ligon of the state Department of Water Resources.
“California already has experienced the largest water shortage in its history,” added DWR Deputy Director Scott Kubly.
The report estimates that up to 1.4 million people in the western part of the state could face water shortages over the next 18 months without action from state officials. For those who are experiencing severe water restrictions, the report said, “the state recommends that they take water from conservation sources if possible.”
If you’ve taken water from your well or cistern in the past three years, the report recommends that you wait until March, when the state expects the worst of its dry spell to end. If you have never taken water from your well or cistern before, that is not a factor in the report.
To avoid experiencing water shortages, water agencies advise individuals to:
•Use a pressure-treated well or container at or above 60 psig (pounds per square inch of water per foot) or an EPA-approved well pump or water softener
•Store water
