Contact Information: Contact: Jennifer Persike ACWA Director of Strategic Coordination and Public Affairs 916/441-4545 916/296-3981 (cell)
Record-Low Water Allocation Paints Grim Picture for 2010
Water Agencies Gearing Up for Shortages in Potential Fourth Dry Year
| Source: Association of California Water Agencies
SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - December 1, 2009) - Association of California Water Agencies
(ACWA) Executive Director Timothy Quinn issued the following statement
today on the initial 2010 water supply allocations announced by the
Department of Water Resources. The department has notified State Water
Project contractors that they may receive just 5% of requested deliveries
next year -- the lowest initial allocation in the project's history. SWP
contractors deliver water to 25 million Californians and more than 750,000
acres of farmland.
"This extremely low allocation means we are in critical territory going
into 2010. Last year's reduced supplies compelled more than 60 water
agencies to impose some form of mandatory conservation, and that will
likely continue next year.
"Even if the coming months bring a return to normal rainfall, we can't
assume that our water supply outlook will improve significantly. Regulatory
restrictions to protect species will make it difficult to deliver water
even if it is available.
"The legislative water package approved by the Legislature last month and
signed by Governor Schwarzenegger puts us on a path toward implementing
solutions, but in the interim supplies will be tight for much of the state.
"Californians responded to calls for water conservation this year, with
significant reductions in water use in many regions around the states. That
response must escalate for the foreseeable future. ACWA is committed to
raising the bar on conservation through the Save Our Water public education
program launched earlier this year in partnership with the Department of
Water Resources."
ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 450 members are
responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more
information, visit www.acwa.com.