Over the past two years, winter storms and rainfall have alleviated drought conditions in most parts of California, significantly raising water levels in the San Gabriel Valley region of Southern California. However, due to the ever-changing climate, water authorities warn that future water resources still face considerable instability, stressing the importance of water conservation in daily life.
Experts from the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (SGVMWD) revealed during a press conference on Wednesday that 80% of the water in the San Gabriel Valley comes from groundwater sources, with 20% imported from the State Water Project (Northern California) and the Colorado River. Benefitting from the past two years of rainfall, current water resources are in a very abundant state, with 95% of rainwater being stored.
Russ Bryden, the CEO of the San Gabriel Basin Water Management District, stated, “The surge in rainfall over the past two years has provided us with much-needed water resources, ensuring sufficient water storage.”
“Bryden further explained, “Since June 2022, our groundwater storage has increased by more than 50 feet. Nearly half of the approximately 970,000 acre-feet of runoff stored in the entire greater Los Angeles area is now in the San Gabriel Basin.” However, he cautioned, “The climate is always changing, and we need to continue monitoring how hot this summer will be; the situation is unpredictable.”
The concerns raised by water authorities are not unfounded. Over the past decade, most years in California have experienced below-average rainfall, making drought conditions a regular occurrence.
Especially from 2011 to 2017, California went through several consecutive years of severe drought, leading some cities to experience dry wells. The groundwater levels within the jurisdiction of the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District also plummeted to historic lows during that time. From 2019 to 2022, California faced an unprecedented drought, prompting both state and local governments to urgently implement strict mandatory water restrictions.
Thomas Wong, the current Mayor of Monterey Park and former Chair of the Water District, highlighted that due to the severity of past droughts in California, “We do not know how long the current favorable conditions will last, and we do not know when we might face another prolonged drought battle; the abundant rainfall over the past two years has merely given us a temporary reprieve.”
He also pointed out, “Extensive research has shown that the drought situations we have repeatedly experienced over the past decade will occur more frequently.”
Therefore, the water district is engaging in multiple projects to store more drinking water. Assistant Manager Steve Kiggins mentioned during the press conference that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Los Angeles County Sanitation District are advancing the long-term recycled water project known as “Pure Water Southern California.”
This initiative is expected to benefit over 19 million people in Southern California and become one of the largest water recycling projects in the world. The San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District has signed a memorandum of understanding with the project leaders. Through this program, up to 6,000 acre-feet of recycled water can be added to the water district’s resources annually.
Chairman Wu Guoqing of the Water District’s Board of Directors emphasized that the agency cannot solely rely on weather conditions, and such long-term water projects can effectively address the possibility of future droughts.
On another note, the water district urges the public to continue conserving water, including checking for leaks at home, avoiding over-irrigation, reducing shower time, and turning off faucets while brushing teeth or washing dishes.