Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Region's water supplies sufficient for 2019 and beyond

Jim Madaffer

Chair, Board of Directors

San Diego County Water Authority

A rainstorm in mid-October provided the first significant relief from months of hot and dry weather – before the weather turned hot and dry once again. That cycle is a reminder of two important facts of life of San Diego County:

● On average, the county gets about 10 inches of rain a year – far less than what is needed to sustain a $220 billion economy and 3.3 million people.

● With continued investments in water supply reliability and water-use efficiency, the county can continue to thrive.

As residents look toward the rainy season, it’s worth taking stock of why there is sufficient water supplies for 2019 regardless of the weather.

Water managers measure rainfall from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, what is called the “water year.” Water year 2018 just ended, and it was the second-driest in San Diego dating back to 1850, with just over 3 inches of rain at Lindbergh Field. In terms of water supply for the region, that barely registers – and it’s a reminder that there hasn’t been enough local water supply to meet local demands for more than 70 years.

Another key factor in the water supply-demand equation is heat – and yes, local temperatures have been significantly higher than normal for nearly five straight years. In many months, the average daily maximum temperatures have been more than 4 degrees above the long-term averages.

Higher temperatures, coupled with a flourishing economy, put upward pressure on water use. The San Diego region, however, continues to embrace water-use efficiency. In fact, cumulative regional municipal and industrial potable water-use over the past three-plus years was 17 percent below base year 2013 levels.

Water resource stewardship is part of region’s legacy going back decades. Not many people remember it these days, but San Diego County sponsored the original state legislation in 1991 to require low-flow toilets, a standard that has saved countless billions of gallons worldwide. And the Water Authority continues to offer water-use efficiency resources at http://www.WaterSmartSD.org.

While residents embrace WaterSmart living, the county also has executed strategic plans to withstand dry spells and emergencies such as earthquakes. An array of investments, including the Claude “Bud” Carlsbad Desalination Plant and a landmark conservation-and-transfer agreement in the Imperial Valley, mean the county has ample water for projected demands in 2019 and beyond.

While the U.S. Drought Monitor classifies San Diego as a region of “Severe Drought,” that does not reflect water supply conditions. The county doesn’t need extraordinary conservation measures right now but rather a continued commitment from residents to use water efficiently. That’s because the county has made – and continues to make – the investments necessary to fuel the economy and quality of life even when dry spells last for years.

Submitted by San Diego County Water Authority.

 

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