Drought FAQs

For the City’s drought condition to be considered over, Lake Cachuma would need to fill up to capacity. We would need to have above average rainfall to replenish Cachuma Reservoir. The long-term average rainfall is approximately 25-30 inches. For Gibraltar, it takes approximately 10 inches of rain to saturate the ground to the point that runoff could begin to flow into the reservoir. Ideally, this amount of rain would occur over a series of storm events to avoid flooding and siltation concerns. See more information about countywide Rainfall and Reservoirs.

There are 3 drought stages: Stage 1 is to alert the public that a potential serious water shortage may occur if dry weather continues and water demands remain high. Stage 2 reflects that a serious water shortage is expected in the current or impending year, and includes drought based water rates and mandatory water use restrictions. Stage 3 is triggered by an extreme water shortage which includes increasing drought rates and more aggressive mandatory restrictions. The City maintains a Water Shortage Contingency Plan which was most recently updated with the 2011 Water Supply Plan. It plans for “extraordinary” water conservation measures, above and beyond normal water conservation actions, during water shortages.

The City needs to reduce our normal water demand by 30% with extraordinary water conservation measures. Any water saved now can help prevent more severe actions needed in the future as drought conditions continue. We are urging that each customer (residential, business, commercial, etc.) evaluate their water use and see where they can conserve. The City’s Water Conservation Program is here to help everyone save water; to get help evaluating water use and conservation opportunities, get a free water checkup.

• Hoses must be equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle when in use.

• Irrigation with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for automatic systems. If manually operated or hand watering, irrigation is prohibited between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

• Irrigation with potable water that causes runoff onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or parking structures is prohibited. Any excessive, unnecessary or unwarranted use of water is prohibited. All leaks must be repaired as soon as reasonably possible.

• Irrigation during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall is prohibited.

For details and to see all water use restrictions, see the Water Use Regulations page.

The City’s Water Conservation Program has many programs and resources to help you save water in your garden. Please visit our Conservation Homepage or call our Conservation Hotline at (805) 564-5460 for more information on free Water Checkup appointments, rebates, classes, hands-on workshops, water wise plants, and more.

The focus on grass lawns allows for critical water savings, while also prioritizes outdoor water use to preserve high value landscaping such as trees and shrubs. The City has informational resources available to help our community save trees. For specific tree watering information, signs of drought stress, FAQs, and more can be found at www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/TreeWatering.

The desalination facility will provide a very significant 30 percent of Santa Barbara’s water supply. But that represents replacement of surface water that is not available during the long drought. The desal plant is one part of the City’s diverse water supply portfolio, which will suffice in meeting demands this year as long as the community reaches 40% conservation with the new lawn watering ban. Should drought conditions persist, Council will need to evaluate potential expansion of desalination which will be a significant cost and will be considered by Council in spring 2017.

The City’s Long Term Water Supply Plan (LTWSP) includes the projected demand from development anticipated under the City’s updated General Plan. This is a minimal amount because new projects represent a small portion of overall water usage, are built to the latest efficiency standards for landscaping and plumbing fixtures, and much of the water demand for the new project is offset by water usage of the existing development. The City has planned for an additional water demand of 40 acre feet per year from new development in the General Plan and the Long-Term Water Supply Plan. During the ongoing drought, City Council has discussed and considered development restrictions many times and will continue to revisit them. Past development restriction discussions took place during City Council meetings on December 2014, April 2015, April 2016, and September 2016, these meeting videos can be viewed here.

Pre-drought, the average single family residence used approximately 13 hundred cubic feet (HCF) per month (9,700 gallons). Currently, average single family residence usage is 9 HCF per month. In multi-unit residential buildings, the average usage pre-drought was approximately 5 HCF (3,700 gallons) per month per dwelling unit. Currently, average multi-unit usage is 4 HCF per month per dwelling unit. Learn more about historical water usage.

The City Parks department has done a commendable job at conserving water in parks and at the golf course. Some turf areas have stopped being watered entirely, others have been cut back by 20-30%. More info can be found on the Parks Drought Page and the Parks Strategic Drought Response Plan.

The cost of the City's water supply can vary from year to year, for more information on Fiscal Year 2017 supply cost view our rate memo.

During this time of drought, we have to rely more on our ground water supplies to supplement our diminishing surface water supplies for drinking water. Treated groundwater may taste or smell different than what you are used to from your tap, but it does comply with all Federal and State primary drinking water regulations. It is safe to drink and does not pose any health risks.