City of Santa Cruz moves from mandatory to voluntary water rationing

Monday the Santa Cruz Water Department lifted mandatory water rationing guidelines but is asking for people to still voluntarily cutback on water use.

Water officials say they will also suspend penalties for high water use effective in the December billing cycle.

The department says the recent above-average rainfall and what is predicted for the remainder of December means it can stop drawing from Loch Lomond reservoir which needs a recharge.

Customers will continue to see water budgets on their bills and are asked to voluntarily reduce water use to meet those allotments.

“Though recent rainfall has been above average, the drought in Santa Cruz is far from over,” said Rosemary Menard, City of Santa Cruz Water Director. “We are pleased to lift fees but a dry late winter or spring could mean the return of mandatory rationing.”

Even with the increased river flows, the water department says it will take at least 60 inches in the watershed by spring for the local drought to end and to date just a little over 13 inches has fallen.

The department provides three formal Water Supply Outlooks to the water commission and city council annually. The first is provided in January and the last in April; that is when their recommendation is made for any stage of water restrictions they deem necessary.

For more information on the 2014 drought, weekly water conditions and rationing, please visit: www.cityofsantacruz.com/drought2014