Water Shortage Warning Begins In Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The city of Santa Cruz is now under a water shortage warning.

The Stage 1 Water Shortage Warning went into effect Saturday and expires at the end of October, the city announced. The city council signed off on the water warning at its April 13 meeting.

A Stage 1 Water Shortage Warning entails residents will receive an allotment of water based on household occupancy. Penalties for exceeding that allotment will be enforced if the city progresses into a Stage 2 Water Shortage Alarm, which could happen next year if dry weather conditions persist.

A single-family home of three people will receive about 3,740 gallons per month. Another 42 gallons per person, per day would be allotted for each additional person.

People who have more than three people in their household or multi-family residence can learn how to request a greater water allotment here.

Businesses will not be subject to allotments this summer because water use has substantially decreased during the pandemic, the city said.

Santa Cruz said it receives all of its drinking water from local rainfall. Five percent comes from groundwater and the rest comes from flowing bodies of water such as rivers and creeks.

The Loch Lomond reservoir — the city's only reservoir — can hold a year's worth of water.

"So simply put, when it doesn’t rain – like this year – our supply is at risk," the city wrote. "It’s critical that we use every drop of water efficiently."

Learn more about the water shortage warning here.