Resources for Water Conservation & Drought

On May 9, 2016, the governor issued Executive Order Executive Order B-37-16, establishing long-term water conservation measures that include permanent monthly water use reporting, new urban water use targets, reducing system leaks and eliminating clearly wasteful practices, strengthening urban drought contingency plans and improving agricultural water management and drought plans. 
 
In April 2017, the Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the California Energy Commission released their final report on Executive Order B-37-16, entitled Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life. This report provides a statewide framework for using water more wisely, eliminating waterwaste, strengthening local drought resilience, and improving agricultural water use efficiency and drought planning.

Permanent Statewide Water Use Restrictions

  • Prohibitions on using a hose to clean driveways or sidewalks.
  • A ban on overwatering landscape that results in runoff.
  • Requiring restaurants to serve water only upon request.
  • A mandate that the hospitality industry offer optional laundering of sheets and towels. 

Rebate & Incentive Programs


Alameda County Water District, the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency, and the State of California's Save Our Water Program assist local residents with water conservation efforts and water efficiency upgrade projects.
  • ACWD Residential Water Conservation Kits: Free
  • ACWD Residential Toilet Leak Detection Kits: Free
  • ACWD Commercial Weather-Based Irrigation "Smart" Controller Rebate: $30 per station Commercial
  • ACWD High Efficiency Toilet and Urinal Rebates: $150 rebate for each high use, high volume commercial toilet or urinal replaced with a qualifying High Efficiency Toilet (HET) or High Efficiency Urinal (HEU) at service area businesses and organizations. 
  • ACWD Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate Program: $1.00 per sq/ft of lawn converted
  • BAWSCA Residential Rain Barrel Rebate: $50 Residential 
  • Save Our Water Residential Turf Replacement Rebate: Up to $2 per sq/ft Residential
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​Report Water Waste


You can report water use violations to ACWD by calling (510) 668-4200 or by filling out the online water waste reporting form.

Water Conservation Status


View system-wide usage reductions since 2013 on the graph below, courtesy of the Pacific Institute.

You can also download a presentation from the January 12, 2016 City Council meeting by ACWD General Manager Robert Shaver entitled "Water Supply Reliability: The Drought and Beyond".

System-wide water usage reductions 2013-2017. Courtesy of Pacific Institute

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California Drought


The California Drought website provides drought resources, news archives, and links to additional water resources in the State of California.

Breaking Drought News 


The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is responsible for managing and protecting California’s water. The DWR maintains a news page, covering their work and projects, important events, current conditions, advisories, appointments, and more.


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CaliforniaDrought.org


 CaliforniaDrought.org is a project of the Pacific Institute, a nonprofit based in Oakland, California dedicated to researching and finding solutions to freshwater issues. The website compiles tools, research, and information on the drought to help California understand, plan for, and find sustainable water management solutions.

U.S. Drought Portal


The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) created the U.S. Drought Portal as an information hub on current drought conditions and drought forecasting throughout the country.
 

U.S. Drought Monitor


The U.S. Drought Monitor, established in 1999, is a weekly map of drought conditions that is produced jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.