Conservation and Other Sources Of Water

Half of the water in Southern California is imported from two sources: the State Water Project, which draws from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in northern California, and the Colorado River, which runs along the state's southeast border.

Local water districts cobble together the rest from groundwater, recycled or surface water, and imports from elsewhere in the state. In order to deal with the current drought and decline of the Delta, scientists and water authorities are pushing for more water recycling, conservation and water-use restrictions, as well as cleaning up the groundwater supply.

With California experiencing another dry year, conservation efforts are being stepped up across the state. Some local water agencies have issued mandatory rationing. Find out how you can save water at home, in the yard, and at work. Conservation links for agricultural and urban water agencies are also available, as well as information about the state's plan to reduce water use by 20 percent.

Bay Delta Conservation Plan

The Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) is a collaborative effort by state and federal agencies, local water agencies, environmental and conservation groups, and others to provide standards for managing Delta specific species and habitats. Implementation of the Plan will happen over a 50-year period in order to:

• modify conveyance to create a more natural flow pattern;
• provide compehensive restoration for the Delta;
• establish a basis for permitting under federal and state endangered species laws based on the best available science;
• identify funding sources and new methods for making decisions on ecosystem improvements;
• provide an adaptive management and monitoring program to incorporate emerging information and conditions; and
• streamline permitting for projects covered by the Plan

Desalination

Some Southern California municipalities and water districts are increasingly considering desalination. Desalination is most commonly used in between areas where fresh water is scarce, such as Saudi Arabia and northern Africa.

Desalination is not without controversy. Environmental groups object to large desalination facilities because fish and other organisms get sucked into ocean-based intakes. Desalination is also energy-intensive, and often requires the construction of new power plants.

Despite these challenges, desalination facilities are being considered in Carlsbad, Huntington Beach and Camp Pendleton.