Long Beach Can Expect More Water After Recent Rains

LONG BEACH, CA - Recent rains could mean a more flexible water budget for Long Beach as state authorities announced increased water deliveries throughout California.

The state will allocate additional water deliveries to some 29 public water agencies, delivering 30 percent of requested water supplies after initially projecting only five percent delivery.

“The allocation increase is the direct result of extreme weather in late December and nine atmospheric rivers in early January that helped fill reservoirs and dramatically increase the Sierra Nevada snowpack. The SWP’s two largest reservoirs (Oroville and San Luis) have gained a combined 1.62 million acre-feet of water in storage - roughly enough to provide water to 5.6 million households for a year,” the California Department of Water Resources said in a statement.

The areas receiving additional water allocations include the Bay Area, central coast, San Joaquin Valley and Southern California, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, according to Maggie Macias, a representative of the California Department of Water Resources.

Many Los Angeles area water districts have enforced strict water restrictions to handle persistent drought conditions. Most of Los Angeles County was considered to be in a “moderate” drought, with some areas experiencing slightly better and worse drought conditions as of Thursday, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

But the county has fared worse in recent months. Angelenos were tasked with reducing water usage by 30 percent with penalties on excessive water use. The Los Angeles County Waterworks District continues to enforce two-day-per-week outdoor yard and lawn watering restrictions, with watering prohibited everyday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Parts of Los Angeles have seen even stricter guidelines, including the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District covering Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and parts of Malibu. These areas face penalties beyond one-day-per-week outdoor watering.

Landscape watering for Long Beach residents is limited to Tuesdays and Saturdays between 4 p.m. and 9 a.m., according to Long Beach Water's website. There are a number of rules listed on the website including:

• Watering can be no longer than 10 minutes, or 20 minutes if using water-efficient nozzles.
• No watering is allowed during or within 48 hours after rainfall.
• Washing hardscape like driveways or sidewalks is not allowed unless using a qualified pressure washer.
• Wasting water due to leaks, plumbing or pipeline breaks is not allowed.
• Pools and spas must be covered when not in use.

Despite the promising rains, the state department cautioned Angelenos that the drought is still far from over.

“While recent storms have been impressive, two months remain in the wet season and California could see a return to warm and dry conditions prior to April 1. Californians should continue to use water wisely to help the state adapt to a hotter, drier future and the possible return of drought,” the California Department of Water Resources said.