Creating a reliable water supply for today and the future, together.
California is in the middle of a historic and long-term water supply threat never seen before, impacting the economy, every region across the state, local communities, jobs, critical industries, food security, and all Californians.
Threats to California’s Water Supply
Climate change
California faces a major challenge, climate change has severely impacted the ability of our water system to meet the current and future needs of the State.
This is an unprecedented time with changing and worsening climate conditions, with the last three years recorded as the driest three-year period in 1,200 years.
Low to no-snow future
The summer of 2021 was California’s hottest ever, studies predict a low to no-snow future for the State -- compounding the already difficult challenge of delivering water for residential, business, agriculture, and recreational purposes.
Aging water infrastructure
Pressured by multi-year droughts, floods and other intensifying climate change impacts, California's aging water infrastructure and facilities are not able to keep pace, leaving groundwater basins overdrafted, land fallowed, businesses suffering, residents constrained and severe cutbacks to the State’s water delivery systems and local supplies.
The current water supply infrastructure was developed for a 1970 state population of 20 million; California has almost 40 million people today.
Why does California need additional water supply?
California’s current water supply threat touches every part of the State's economy and all communities.
Job losses, particularly in the ag industry
Impacts on statewide energy supplies
New housing development stalled
Food security jeopardized
Decrease in statewide tourism
Decline in business confidence and reduced investment in California
Increased stress on ecosystems and habitats
Increased water costs
Decline in recreational activities
Brink of catastrophe…
California’s policymakers need to understand and immediately address the harsh realities of today’s water supply crisis while seeking to meet present and future water supply needs of the state and its more than 40 million Californians.