Water Authority Applauds Governor’s Targeted Approach to Drought

April 21, 2021

Board Chair responds to Gov. Newsom’s executive action today

“We applaud Governor Newsom for taking a targeted, flexible, and iterative approach to drought management that provides support for individual regions that are suffering from drought while also recognizing regions like San Diego County that have sufficient water supplies due to three decades of investments in supply reliability. The governor’s Water Portfolio Strategy aligns with our long-term investments in a diversified water portfolio, desalinated seawater, conserved water from Imperial County, local water-use efficiency measures, and increased water storage. Because of those actions and others, our residents have enough water for 2021 and future dry years. We also applaud the efforts of our ratepayers, who have cut per capita water use by nearly half since 1990.

“In addition, the innovative and resilient supply portfolio created by the Water Authority and its 24 member agencies puts our region in a unique position to provide solutions that can help California weather this drought and future droughts – for instance, by storing water in Lake Mead. We look forward to working with the governor and his staff to collaborate on projects and programs where we can use our assets and experience to help areas that are hit hard by drought in the face of a changing climate.

“Finally, we are proud to be a founding member of the coalition of water agencies mentioned by the governor that support the important scientific research being done on climate change by our own Scripps Institution of Oceanography.”

— Gary Croucher, Board Chair, San Diego County Water Authority

  • The San Diego County Water Authority sustains a $240 billion regional economy and the quality of life for 3.3 million residents through a multi-decade water supply diversification plan, major infrastructure investments and forward-thinking policies that promote fiscal and environmental responsibility. A public agency created in 1944, the Water Authority delivers wholesale water supplies to 24 retail water providers, including cities, special districts and a military base.

    Media Contact Information

    Ed Joyce

    Phone: (949) 276-1675

    Email: Ejoyce@sdcwa.org