State Updates Water Allocation to 15%; Local Water Districts Urge Continued Conservation

OAK PARK, Calif. - Feb. 7, 2022 - PRLog -- The California Department of Water Resources (CADWR) announced an updated 15% allocation from the State Water Project (SWP) following record precipitation events in late 2021. With a very dry January and recently published temperature and precipitation projections for February by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showing continued dry conditions, the Conejo – Las Virgenes Regional Drought Partnership urges continued water conservation for our region.

The service areas of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD), Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD), and Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas) received a much needed reprieve from drought during December as record rain and snowfall hit many parts of the state. The brief precipitation resulted in a modest improvement in water supply availability for the region; however, the need for urgent conservation remains the same.

Unfortunately, January ended up as yet another dry month too often experienced in recent California winters, and many state reservoir levels remain low. Lake Oroville, a key SWP reservoir that supplies much of LVMWD's, Calleguas', and TWSD's demand via the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), sits at 46% of average levels for this time of year. Most of the state's other major reservoirs also remain well below average levels.

Precipitation levels for the current water year, which began on October 1, are tracking above average. Should that trend continue, water supply conditions could end up more favorable as of April 1st. However, this would require regular rain and snow for the next couple of months, and if January, and now February projections, provide any indication of the remainder of the season, we will continue to have drought conditions well into the remainder of 2022.

Despite a wet December, water supply conditions are still critical," stated LVMWD Board President Jay Lewitt. "Even with the increased allocation, we are encouraging our customers to continue to reduce their outdoor water use by 25% to ensure continued water supply availability."

LVMWD, TWSD, and Calleguas call on all customers to remain consistent with minimizing their water usage. This can be accomplished most efficiently outdoors, where up to 70% of all residential water consumption occurs. Replacing thirsty turf with drought-tolerant landscaping, installing drip irrigation systems, checking for leaks, and replacing old watering timers with smart irrigation controllers can provide significant water and money savings.

TWSD customers can visit triunfowsd.com for more information on water usage guidelines, as well as conservation incentives offered by the District.

Conservation rebates can be found at www.socalwatersmart.com.