Santa Monica Can Expect More Water After Recent Rains

SANTA MONICA, CA - Recent rains could mean a more flexible water budget for Santa Monica as state authorities announced increased water deliveries throughout California.

The state will allocate additional water deliveries to some 29 public water agencies, delivering 30 percent of requested water supplies after initially projecting only five percent delivery.

“The allocation increase is the direct result of extreme weather in late December and nine atmospheric rivers in early January that helped fill reservoirs and dramatically increase the Sierra Nevada snowpack. The SWP’s two largest reservoirs (Oroville and San Luis) have gained a combined 1.62 million acre-feet of water in storage - roughly enough to provide water to 5.6 million households for a year,” the California Department of Water Resources said in a statement.

The areas receiving additional water allocations include the Bay Area, central coast, San Joaquin Valley and Southern California, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, according to Maggie Macias, a representative of the California Department of Water Resources.

Many Los Angeles area water districts have enforced strict water restrictions to handle persistent drought conditions. Most of Los Angeles County was considered to be in a “moderate” drought, with some areas experiencing slightly better and worse drought conditions as of Thursday, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

But the county has fared worse in recent months. Angelenos were tasked with reducing water usage by 30 percent with penalties for excessive water use. The Los Angeles County Waterworks District continues to enforce two-day-per-week outdoor yard and lawn watering restrictions, with watering prohibited every day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Parts of Los Angeles have seen even stricter guidelines, including the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District covering Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and parts of Malibu. These areas face penalties beyond one-day-per-week outdoor watering.

Outdoor watering for Santa Monica residents is limited to two days a week between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to the city's website. Residents with addresses ending in even numbers water on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and residents with addresses ending in odd numbers water Mondays and Wednesdays.

Despite the promising rains, the state department cautioned Angelenos that the drought is still far from over.

“While recent storms have been impressive, two months remain in the wet season and California could see a return to warm and dry conditions prior to April 1. Californians should continue to use water wisely to help the state adapt to a hotter, drier future and the possible return of drought,” the California Department of Water Resources said.