It's a Dry Year. Save Water With Us.

As a region we are experiencing a second consecutive dry year, and rainfall and water storage are well below average for this time of year. Sonoma Water and its partners in the Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership (SMSWP) encourage all of our 600,000 drinking water customers to continue to save water (see tips below).

Our region just experienced the third driest water year (October 2019 - September 2020) on record over the last 127 years. We all need to make changes to our everyday habits to eliminate water waste and preserve water supply. Every drop saved helps maintain water flows in the Russian River and extend reservoir storage levels should the current dry period continue.

To help raise awareness of water supply conditions, Sonoma Water is unveiling a new water supply graphic (below) that provides a snapshot of the rainfall and water storage for our two main reservoirs, Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino.

It’s a Dry Year. Save Water With Us.

The Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership has launched a public outreach campaign to encourage water conservation in the North Bay. To support this message, we’ve adopted a regional tag line : "It's A Dry Year. Save Water With Us." Water is a resource that our community shares, and it is critical that we all protect and conserve this valuable resource.

These are a few of the water-wasting activities that are prohibited year-round in cities in Sonoma and Marin county:

• Washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways or other hard surfaced areas with a hose. Use a broom instead.
• Irrigation runoff to streets and storm drains from overwatering or sprinkler-overspray of landscapes.
• Using a hose without a self-closing shutoff nozzle to wash cars, boats, or trailers.
• Irrigating outdoors during and within 48 hours following measurable rainfall.
• Using potable water in decorative water features that do not recirculate the water.

For additional water saving tips and resources, please visit the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership website.

Learn more about current water supply levels.

Local Water Supply Articles

North Bay braces for water cuts with reservoirs at record lows after second dry winter The Press Democrat - April 2, 2021

Sonoma County dairies forced to reckon with drought conditions Petaluma Argus-Courier - April 1, 2021 

Dreading another long drought Sonoma County Gazette - March 31, 2021

Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino water levels at record low for this time of year Press Democrat - March 31, 2021

Commentary: Save water as if your life depends on it Sonoma West - March 23, 2021

Sonoma And Marin County Water Conservation Campaign Launches KSRO - March 19, 2021

North Marin Water District approves Novato drought measures Marin Independent Journal - March 17, 2021

Another year of drought in Mendocino County Ukiah Daily Journal - March 17, 2021

Once Again, Lake Oroville and Other Reservoirs Are at Drought Emergency Levels SFist - March 17, 2021