Water Supply Conditions: RUNNING LOW
California has a big problem with water supply. Water from rainfall and melting snow packs is stored at several lakes and reservoirs across the state. Over the past few years, there’s been limited rainfall and reduced snow pack levels that has impacted the supply of water.
Dramatically exacerbating the situation is a 2008 court decision that significantly reduced the amount of water that can be pumped off of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Burbank buys half of our water from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). The court decision cut MWD’s share of Delta water to just 25% of what MWD typically receives. So, the problem is not just how much water is or isn’t available, it is also a problem of how to get water from the northern part of the state delivered to the southern half of the state when the Delta, which is right in the middle of the state, can only be used in a limited capacity. The solution to this delivery problem is likely to be a new water conveyance system through and around the Delta to both environmentally protect the Delta while providing a reliable water supply. This conveyance solution has yet to be determined and will take years to build, so the water supply problem will be with us for the better part of a decade or longer.
MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE WATER CRISIS AND HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT YOU