Water districts in Santa Cruz County announce water shortage stages, but have different restrictions

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Multiple water districts in Santa Cruz County are calling on residents to limit the use of water at their homes. Water restriction notices have been issued throughout the county.

Climate change, under performing rain events, and worsening drought conditions means a Stage 1 Water Shortage Warning for Santa Cruz residence. Water Director for the City of Santa Cruz, Rosemary Menard said, “This year has been as dry as 2014, which has been a really dry one. It's the second driest one on record. We keep records from about 100 years."

Multiple dry years in a row, is troublesome. But it's not just weather. Menard said there’s not enough storage in their one reservoir, Loch Lomond, to meet supply needs for customers. When decisions, like a water storage stage, are made its about prevention for the future.

“It’s been a really dry year so we are asking customers to conserve this year. Really it's not so much about water supply availability for this year, we should be able to meet the customers needs this year, but its about if we have another dry year next year," Menard.

Just up the road, the San Lorenzo Valley also feeling the impact. The water district there issuing a Stage 2 Warning, which focus on outdoor watering for the summer months. Rick Rogers, Water District Manager for the San Lorenzo Valley Water District says, “Really focusing on the outdoor, irrigation, outdoor watering, play structures all the different things we use water for in the summer months”

Water is vital, something Roger says residences know all too well. “Customers respond very well, they understand. Especially with just what they went through with the CZU Fire. They know the importance of having water."

Unlike Santa Cruz, the main water source in the San Lorenzo Valley is not a reservoir but well aquifers and surface water, both limited. For the San Lorenzo Valley water district they lost a few surface water intake infrastructures from last's August's fire.

And just this week, a third water district in the county issuing water restrictions. Scotts Valley Water District has also declared a Stage 2 Water Shortage.

Each water district and agency has their own individual issues. It's best to visit your water district's website to see how you can do your part to conserve.