Drought and Water Update from City of Davis

On May 10, 2021, Governor Newsom signed a drought declaration which included Yolo County, making it essential that we all continue the water conservation measures that have been in place since the last drought. With two dry years of precipitation and current forecasts predicting continued dry weather, the City will need to rely on groundwater supplies more heavily, as surface water from the Sacramento River is limited in summer months and extended dry periods.

Although the City’s water supplies (via a conjunctive use system of surface water and groundwater) are stable, water conservation is necessary not only to help reduce water demands citywide and to ensure that resources are being used as efficiently as possible. The City also needs to meet water reduction benchmarks from the State in the coming years.

Water from the City’s deep aquifer wells is similar in hardness and other mineral levels to the surface water. Differences in hardness and other mineral levels between the surface water and groundwater wells may be noticeable at times but continues to meet all water quality requirements.

Along with continuing to conserve water, don’t forget that there [is a new water use framework and] … a number of mandatory water-use restrictions that have remained in place since the most recent drought emergency declared by the State from 2014-2017.

[The] new water use … framework includes:

• A standard for indoor residential water use of 55 gallons per person per day—dropping
  incrementally to 50 gallons beginning in 2030.
• A standard for outdoor residential water use (to be determined) based upon a
  community’s climate and the amount of landscaped area.
• A standard for water loss due to leaks in water system pipes (to be determined).

State mandated end user restrictions on water use still remain in effect and are likely to become permanent.  [A partial] list of mandatory water conservation measures for the City of Davis are listed below.

• No watering outdoors between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., except with a hand-held container or hose with a shut-off nozzle, or for very short periods when adjusting a sprinkler system*

• Outdoor watering is restricted to three days a week*:
  • Odd numbered addresses: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
  • Even numbered addresses: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
  • No outdoor watering on Monday;
  • *Drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses are exempt from watering days and times

• No watering during periods of rain or for 48 hours after measureable rainfall

• No excessive water flow or runoff onto pavement, gutters or ditches from watering or irrigating landscapes or vegetation of any kind

• No washing down paved surfaces unless for safety or sanitation, in which case a bucket, a hose with a shut-off nozzle, a cleaning machine that recycles water or a low-volume/high-pressure water broom must be used

• All property owners must fix leaks, breaks or malfunctions when they find them, or within 72 hours of receiving a notice from the city of Davis

• Fountains and water features must have a re-circulating water system

• Vehicles must be washed with a hand-held bucket and/or hose equipped with a water shut-off nozzle (does not apply to commercial car washes)

• Restaurants may not serve drinking water unless by patron’s request

View the list of mandatory water-use restrictions.

The 2020 Water Quality Report is now available! This report contains details about the constituents detected in your drinking water, where your water comes from, how that water is delivered to your home, water conservation tips, and other water-related topics. In 2020, the City’s water supply met all State and Federal drinking water standards.

To view the 2020 Water Quality Report, visit https://cityofdavis.org/waterquality