Why are we being asked to conserve water?
San Diego County is a semi-arid region dependent on imported water supplies, and OMWD has traditionally received a significant portion of its water supply from the State Water Project. However, in order to protect fish species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta, water transfer restrictions have been placed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the delta pumps that provide water to most of Southern California via the State Water Project. These restrictions could prevent deliveries of the water normally conveyed by the State Water Project for years to come.

Am I required to conserve water?
OMWD is currently in a Level 1 Water Supply Shortage, which calls for voluntary water use restrictions to conserve water throughout OMWD's service area.

However, continuing restrictions on water deliveries from Northern California mean that water conservation is critical. The quickest and least expensive way to reduce overall demand and safeguard the water supply to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public is through conservation. OMWD strongly encourages its residential customers to increase their water conservation efforts.

See Water Supply Shortage Ordinance Basics for details.

What happens if I don't comply with conservation measures?
Under a Level 1 Water Supply Shortage, water use restrictions are voluntary measures intended to generate sufficient conservation to allow OMWD to meet reductions imposed by its wholesaler, San Diego County Water Authority. If voluntary measures are not successful in generating conservation, or if water supply conditions worsen, OMWD may return to a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage in which water use restrictions are mandatory. See Water Supply Shortage Ordinance Basics for details.

Why did OMWD recently return to a Level 1 Water Supply Shortage?
OMWD's anticipated water supplies over the next year are expected to exceed demand. This is due largely to the recent development of new recycled water supplies with which OMWD supplements its imported water supply, as well as to the extraordinary conservation efforts on the part of OMWD customers. See our Frequently Asked Questions regarding the return to Level 1 for more information.