Facts About Our Water
WHERE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S WATER COMES FROM
AND THREATS TO OUR SUPPLY
The drop of water that comes out your faucet may have come from as far away as Wyoming or as nearby as the ground beneath your feet. In fact, the complex systems that supply the 24 million people who call semi-arid, drought-prone Southern California home is widely recognized as a wonder of the modern world.
Unfortunately, every piece of the water supply puzzle is vulnerable—which makes us vulnerable. Climate change, drought, aging infrastructure, environmental challenges, earthquakes, wildfires, population growth – any of these could lead to water supply emergencies and, of course, higher rates.
That’s why you are safer if your water agencies have had the forethought to secure multiple water sources. Water leaders face pressures to concentrate on other matters but the stakes are too high. That is why the Secure Water Alliance urges you to join us to keep the pressure on. We need to make sure our water leaders do the work today that will ensure we will have enough water tomorrow. And do it so that it will be reasonably priced and affordable even for the disadvantaged members of our communities.
SOME OF OUR MAIN WATER SOURCES
Sierra Nevada Mountains – Sacramento Delta
Water from melting snow in the northern Sierras is transported to Southern California through the Sacramento Delta via the State Water Project.
Threats:
- Less snow because of climate change
- Snow melting faster so less can be captured
- Species protections reduce pumping volumes
- Multi-year supply cuts if earthquakes break levees or aqueducts
Colorado River
Water from melting snow in the Rockies is transported to Southern California via the Colorado River Aqueduct.
Threats:
- 20-year drought in Colorado River Basin is continuing
- SoCal will get less water if Lake Mead water levels continue to fall
- Aqueduct crosses San Andreas and other faults
Local Supply
Primarily groundwater from local aquifers, plus recycling, desalination, reservoirs, stormwater capture, etc.
Threats:
- Groundwater supply is limited and drought-prone
- Many wells have closed due to pollution
- New water supply projects take years to plan and build
