Drought Information

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On March 24, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-5-23 ending the State’s voluntary 15% water conservation target and the requirement that local water agencies implement level 2 of their drought contingency plans. At its meeting on April 24, 2023 , the EID Board of Directors voted to rescind the District’s Stage 1 Water Alert and return to normal water supply conditions.

On June 28, 2021, the EID Board of Directors voted unanimously to declare a drought emergency and to authorize a Stage 1 Water Alert for all District service areas.

The Board reaffirmed Stage 1 Water Alert at the May 23, 2022 Board meeting.

On May 24, 2022, the State Water Board adopted a drought related emergency water conservation regulation. The regulation includes a prohibition against the irrigation of non-functional turf with potable water in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sector. This regulation also applies to homeowner associations, common interest developments, community service organizations,and other similar entities. It does not include residential customers.

The objective of a Stage 1 Water Alert is to initiate public awareness of a possible water shortage in the near future and to encourage water conservation.

“Small voluntary adjustments reducing water use, implemented early, can positively impact the District’s carryover water storage,” said EID General Manager Jim Abercrombie. “This is especially important should precipitation levels during the 2021/2022 fall and winter season remain low. During the last drought, our customers and community came together and achieved significant conservation—some of that conservation became permanent. The small, voluntary changes we make now will have a significant effect on our water supplies.”

Stage 1 actions target up to a 15 percent demand reduction compared to 2020 levels through the implementation of voluntary customer actions. Along with many staff actions centered on customer outreach, water waste, monitoring of demands and District water supplies, EID’s Drought Action Plan identifies the following voluntary measures focused on outdoor irrigation as a way to achieve water savings.

Apply irrigation water during evening and early morning hours only (7 PM to 10 AM)
Inspect irrigation system for leaks and then repair or replace
Adjust sprinkler run times to avoid runoff

Documents and Tip Sheets: Help Your Trees Survive The Drought

Other Agency Links:

Governor Brown Orders Permanent Restrictions - April 2017

The Governor's order makes permanent some water waste restrictions that were initiated in 2015, including:

Irrigating lawns in a way that causes runoff
using non-recirculated water in a fountain or other decorative water feature
watering within 48 hours of precipitation
hosing off sidewalks and driveways
washing automobiles with hoses that do not have a shut-off nozzle,
using potable water to irrigate turf in street medians.

EID's Water Waste Prohibition (Administrative Regulation 1041) remains in effect all year and under all conditions and contains these restrictions. The regulation gives the district the ability to enforce prohibitions against water waste.

Current News

Save Our Water Teams Up with CalFire and CA DWR
Save Our Water has teamed up with CalFire and the California Department of Water Resources (CA DWR) to share tips on how residents can create a fire-safe and water-smart landscape.
08/04/2022 4:00 PM
Outingdale Service Area Moves Back to Stage 1 Water Alert
With improving hydrologic conditions in the Middle Fork Cosumnes River, as of October 25, the Outingdale Water System has been moved from a Stage 4 Water Emergency back to a Stage 1 Water Alert. Customers are asked to voluntarily reduce water usage by 15% compared to 2020.
10/25/2021 3:20 PM
Outingdale Service Area Moves to Stage 4 Water Emergency
EID staff, through close monitoring of streamflows in the Middle Fork Cosumnes River, has determined that conditions no longer allow diversion from the river to safely and reliably supply the Outingdale community with drinking water and will begin trucking water from the Main water system.
07/26/2021 4:00 PM
Reminder Stage 1 Water Alert in Effect
ElD recognizes and thanks our customers that have already taken steps to reduce their water usage. We appreciate your continued efforts. As high temperatures are predicted this week we would like to ask all our customers to continue to look for ways to conserve where they can.
07/09/2021 10:15 AM
EID Declares Stage 1 Water Alert
At its meeting on June 28, 2021, the EID Board of Directors voted unanimously to declare a drought emergency and to authorize a Stage 1 Water Alert for all District service areas.
06/28/2021 4:00 PM
EID Water Use Down by 25 Percent in January, Conservation Mandate Extended through October 2016
For the month of January, EID customers reduced their water use by 25 percent compared to January 2013. The cumulative water savings since June 2015 remains at 30 percent.
02/16/2016 3:00 PM
EID Customers Reduced Water Use by 35 Percent in December
For the month of December, EID customers reduced their water use by 35 percent compared to December 2013.
01/05/2016 1:00 PM
EID Customers Reduced Water Use by 40 Percent in November
For the month of November, EID customers reduced their water use by 40 percent compared to November 2013.
12/03/2015 12:26 PM
EID Customers Reduced Water Use by 26 Percent in October
For the month of October, EID customers reduced their water use by 26 percent compared to October 2013, just falling short of the state-mandated 28 percent reduction target.
11/06/2015 1:00 PM
EID Customers Reduced Water Use by 19 Percent in September
For the month of September, EID customers reduced their water use by 19 percent compared to September 2013, falling short of the state-mandated 28 percent reduction target.
10/19/2015 9:58 AM
Temporary Pumps at Folsom Provide Insurance against Low Lake Levels
In late August, El Dorado Irrigation District installed a temporary emergency floating pump barge in Folsom Lake that will ensure access to drinking water supplies should the reservoir’s water level drop below existing intake levels.
10/09/2015 1:48 PM
EID Customers Reduced Water Use by 30 Percent in August
For the month of August, EID customers reduced their water use by 30 percent compared to August 2013, exceeding the mandatory reduction of 28 percent yet again.
09/16/2015 8:49 AM
EID Customers Reduced Water Use by 34 Percent in July
For the month of July, EID customers reduced their water use by 34 percent compared to July 2013. This is the second month in a row EID customers have exceeded state mandated reduction requirements.
08/07/2015 10:23 AM
EID Bills Now Show Usage in Gallons
In an effort to provide additional tools for customers to better understand their household's water usage, all bills will now show gallons and give a "gallons per day" total alongside the standard usage in cubic feet.
08/04/2015 3:32 PM
EID Customers Reduced Water Use by 32 Percent in June
For the month of June, EID customers reduced their water use by 32 percent compared to June 2013. June is the first month covered under the state’s water-reduction targets.
07/10/2015 10:41 AM
Summer Watering Restricted to Three Days per Week Beginning June 1
At their May 26 meeting, the EID Board of Directors approved a change to the summer watering restrictions that will again limit watering to only three days a week from June 1 until September 30.
05/26/2015 4:40 PM
State Directive Triggers Stage 4 Water Emergency in Outingdale
On April 23, 2015, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) notified EID that the existing water supply in the San Joaquin River watershed is insufficient to meet the needs of all water rights holders. As a result, the State Board has once again directed EID to immediately curtail its junior (post-1914) water diversions.
04/27/2015 4:50 PM
EID Board Approves Changes to Drought Plan, Mandatory Watering Restrictions
At its March 23 meeting, the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors approved updates to EID’s Drought Action Plan which included specific watering restrictions that will go into effect immediately.
03/30/2015 3:38 PM
Watering Restricted to Once a Week Starting 11/16
On November 16, EID’s mandatory watering restrictions moves into its winter season. From November 16 through April 15, 2015, District customers are limited to watering just one day per week.
11/14/2014 4:22 PM
Stage 4 Water Emergency Restrictions Resume for Outingdale
Due to the Sand Fire burning in the Outingdale area, drought watering restrictions were temporarily lifted. Now that the threat of fire has passed, mandated water restrictions will resume on Friday, August 1.
07/31/2014 4:36 PM

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