Tri-Valley Water Agencies Ask Customers to Reduce Water Use by 15% From 2020

News Release

TRI-VALLEY, CA (July 12, 2021) – Six weeks ago, the Tri-Valley’s water agencies asked customers to voluntarily reduce their water use by ten percent after Governor Gavin Newsom included Alameda County in his emergency drought declaration. Last week, the Governor issued Executive Order N-10-21, calling on all Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15 percent from their 2020 levels.

Tri-Valley water agencies are now asking customers to do a little more and voluntarily reduce their water use by 15 percent.

“Because outdoor irrigation is 60-70 percent of an average homeowner’s water use, the easiest way to reduce overall water use is to irrigate when the outdoor temperature is cooler (9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) and to reduce the length of time and frequency of your irrigation,” says DSRSD General Manager Dan McIntyre, “A little change can make a big difference.”

For homeowners without landscapes to irrigate, only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads and repair water leaks immediately. Toilets can be a source of sneaky leaks and toilet flappers only have a useful life of 1-2 years.

“The Tri-Valley has multiple sources of water supply storage, including its local groundwater supplies, so we can withstand the occasional dry winter,” says Zone 7 Water Agency General Manager Valerie Pryor. “However, after two especially dry years in a row, we cannot rely on storage alone.” 

“There is now a need to augment ongoing water conservation and drought resilience investments with additional action to extend available supplies, protect water reserves in case drought conditions extend to a third year and maintain critical flows for fish and wildlife,” Governor Newsom stated in his Executive Order N-10-21.

As drought conditions evolve, the Tri-Valley’s water agencies will continue to provide water use updates. For more tips on ways to conserve water, visit the following: