December 3, 2021                 

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The San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (Valley District) was formed nearly seventy years ago during a 20-year drought to obtain a supplemental water supply to help the region overcome droughts, like the one California is currently facing. The region invested in the State Water Project (SWP) that captures snowmelt in Northern California and delivers it over 700 miles into the Valley District service area which stretches from parts of Fontana in the west to Yucaipa in the east.

Valley District just learned that, due to the current drought, its initial SWP allocation for 2022 will be zero, the lowest initial allocation ever recorded, highlighting the severity of current drought conditions in Northern California.  Despite this dismal projection, Valley District is not panicked.

“Our region has been actively preparing for droughts like this,” stated Bob Tincher, Chief Water Resources Officer for Valley District. “Our primary strategy is to store water during wet years, when it is plentiful, and then rely on that stored water during times of drought, like the one we find ourselves in this year.” 

The region has several large underground aquifers where it stores water during wet years.  Those aquifers are now 80 percent, or more, full.  The amount of water in storage means that the region can make it through 2022 and even make it through additional years of drought, if needed.

Storage is not the only tool available to reduce the local impacts of the current drought.  The region has also been stretching its supplies in recent years by using water more efficiently. Although the region’s population has increased over the past decade, water use has actually decreased. 

“We would like to thank residents and businesses for their efficient water use and challenge everyone to take the next step toward even great conservation of our valuable water resources,” commented Heather Dyer, Valley District CEO and General Manager.  “Whatever opportunities you might have, no action is too small – fixing leaks, using a shut-off nozzle on your garden hose, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, shortening your irrigation schedule, reducing the number of irrigation days, shorter showers; it all helps.”

Although the region is well-positioned to overcome the current drought, Valley District is continuing to develop additional supplies for the future such as recycled water and stormwater capture as well as enhancements to the SWP known as Delta Conveyance and Sites Reservoir. If the Sites Reservoir was in place today, Valley District would have received six times more water this year.

“Previous generations invested in the State Water Project on behalf of the region. Now it is our generation’s turn to invest in improvements to the State Water Project that will help ensure a reliable water supply into the future,” said Paul Kielhold, President of the Valley District Board of Directors.

Although the initial allocation is zero, there is also a good chance that the final allocation will be higher than zero.  The allocation is continuously adjusted, throughout the rainy season, based upon actual rainfall.

“We plan for the worst, but hope for the best,” Tincher added.

For more information, please call 909-387-9200 or email kristeenf@sbvmwd.com.

About San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District

Valley District is a State Water contractor that provides supplemental water to 14 retail water agencies from Fontana to Yucaipa, meeting the water needs of over 700,000 business and residential customers.  In addition to providing supplemental water from Northern California, Valley District is responsible for long-range water planning throughout its 325 square mile service area, including importing supplemental water, groundwater management, and local resources development including stormwater capture, recycled water, and water conservation. For more information about Valley District and water use efficiency, visit www.sbvmwd.com or follow us on Facebook (@SBValleyDistrict) and Twitter (@SBVMWD).

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