Districts we're tracking
Don't see your district?
The Chronicle is tracking restrictions for the 15 Bay Area water districts that serve the most residents. We have linked smaller Bay Area districts below.
What's the status statewide?
Now in year three of drought, California is requiring water suppliers to impose limits on usage . The State Water Project, a massive water storage and delivery system serving some 27 million Californians, is limiting water allocations to just 5% of the amount requested by water providers and contractors. The previous wet season, when most of the state’s precipitation is recorded, did not deliver as much rain and snowpack as hoped . Tighter conservation requirements may be likely in the coming months.
Here are some basic state rules to know:
- No watering outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes excess runoff.
- No washing down sidewalks, driveways and other hardscapes.
- No watering outdoor landscapes during or up to 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
- No operating a fountain or decorative water feature unless the water is part of a recirculating system.
- No washing a motor vehicle with a hose unless the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle.
- No irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians.
- No serving drinking water other than upon request in eating or drinking establishments.
- Hotels and motels must provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily and will display a notice of this option in each bathroom.
Reservoirs we track:
Alameda County Water District
Alameda County Water District is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
Alameda County Water District ’s main water sources are the State Water Project, San Francisco Regional Water System and local supplies . The district's main reservoirs are the Hetch Hetchy, Oroville and Del Valle reservoirs .
Hetch Hetchy
Total capacity: 117.3 billion gallons
Oroville
Total capacity: 1.2 trillion gallons
Del Valle
Total capacity: 25.1 billion gallons
What's restricted?
Alameda County Water District is requiring mandatory 15% conservation .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Watering lawns |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Car washing |
State
recommendation
:
Taking cars to commercial car washes that use recycled water recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Fixing leaks |
State
recommendation
:
Required
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Read more | District website |
Latest drought coverage
California Water Service Mid-Peninsula District
California Water Service Mid-Peninsula District is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
California Water Service Mid-Peninsula District ’s main water source is the San Francisco Regional Water System . The district's main reservoir is the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir .
Hetch Hetchy
Total capacity: 117.3 billion gallons
What's restricted?
California Water Service Mid-Peninsula District is asking for 15% voluntary conservation for outdoor water usage .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Watering lawns | No watering outdoors between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. unless local ordinances state otherwise |
| Car washing | Use only hoses with shutoff nozzles to wash vehicles |
| Fixing leaks | Required within five days of notification |
| Read more | District website |
The City of Hayward
The City of Hayward is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
The City of Hayward ’s main water source is the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission . The district's main reservoir is the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir .
Hetch Hetchy
Total capacity: 117.3 billion gallons
What's restricted?
The City of Hayward is requiring mandatory 11% reduction in water use .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use | Using a hose for any purpose, including vehicle washing, unless the hose is equipped with a shut-off nozzle is prohibited |
| Watering lawns | Prohibited during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall |
| Car washing |
State
recommendation
:
Taking cars to commercial car washes that use recycled water recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Fixing leaks |
State
recommendation
:
Required
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Read more | District website |
The City of San Jose
The City of San Jose is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
The City of San Jose ’s main water sources are the Santa Clara Valley Water District and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission . The district's main reservoirs are the Del Valle, San Luis and Hetch Hetchy reservoirs .
Del Valle
Total capacity: 25.1 billion gallons
San Luis
Total capacity: 665.1 billion gallons
Hetch Hetchy
Total capacity: 117.3 billion gallons
What's restricted?
The City of San Jose is requiring mandatory 15% reduction in water use .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use | Allowed Monday, Thursday for odd-numbered addresses; Tuesday, Friday for even-numbered addresses; |
| Watering lawns | Sprinklers cannot run more than 15 minutes per station per day, no irrigation allowed between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. unless using a bucket, hand-carried container or a hose with a shut-off nozzle |
| Car washing | Allowed with automatic shutoff nozzle on hose |
| Fixing leaks | Required within five days of notification |
| Read more | District website |
The City of Sunnyvale
The City of Sunnyvale is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
The City of Sunnyvale ’s main water sources are the San Francisco Regional Water System, Santa Clara Valley Water District and local groundwater . The district's main reservoirs are the Hetch Hetchy and Leroy Anderson reservoirs .
Hetch Hetchy
Total capacity: 117.3 billion gallons
Leroy Anderson
The Leroy Anderson Reservoir is currently limited to 3% capacity while the dam goes through earthquake retrofitting. Find more information on Valley Water reservoirs here.
What's restricted?
The City of Sunnyvale is requiring 15% water use reduction and enacting a mandatory watering schedule, water audits, raised rates, and expanding its existing rebate program .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use | Broken or defective plumbing, sprinklers, watering or irrigation systems that permit the escape or leakage of potable water are prohibited |
| Watering lawns | Using potable water for outdoor landscaping that causes runoff and between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and for more than 15 minutes per day per station is prohibited |
| Car washing | Do not wash motor vehicle, watercraft or any other vehicle with hose that dispenses potable water |
| Fixing leaks |
State
recommendation
:
Required
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Read more | District website |
Contra Costa Water District
Contra Costa Water District is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
Contra Costa Water District ’s main water source is the Central Valley Project . The district's main reservoirs are the Shasta Dam and Los Vaqueros reservoirs .
Shasta Dam
Total capacity: 1.5 trillion gallons
Los Vaqueros
Total capacity: 52.1 billion gallons
What's restricted?
Contra Costa Water District is asking for voluntary conservation to achieve 10% reduction .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Watering lawns | Watering outdoor landscapes between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. is prohibited |
| Car washing | Use only hoses with shutoff nozzles to wash vehicles |
| Fixing leaks | Required |
| Read more | District website |
East Bay Municipal Utility District
East Bay Municipal Utility District is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
East Bay Municipal Utility District ’s main water sources are the Mokelumne River and local runoff . The district's main reservoirs are the Pardee and Camanche reservoirs .
Pardee
Total capacity: 66.4 billion gallons
Camanche
Total capacity: 135.9 billion gallons
What's restricted?
East Bay Municipal Utility District is asking for mandatory conservation to achieve 10% reduction in total consumption and also requiring mandatory outdoor watering restrictions. The district also announced that fines will be imposed for single family households using more than 1,646 gallons in a day .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Watering lawns | Limit watering of outdoor landscapes to two times per week maximum, prevent excess runoff when watering their landscapes |
| Car washing | Use only hoses with shutoff nozzles to wash vehicles |
| Fixing leaks |
State
recommendation
:
Required
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Read more | District website |
Marin Municipal Water District
Marin Municipal Water District is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
Marin Municipal Water District ’s main water source is the Mount Tamalpais watershed . The district's main reservoirs are the Alpine and Kent reservoirs .
Alpine
Total capacity: 2.9 billion gallons
Kent
Total capacity: 10.7 billion gallons
What's restricted?
Marin Municipal Water District is asking for a voluntary 20% reduction in water use in alignment with state goals .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use | Garden hoses without a shut-off nozzle, allowing overspray or excess runoff, using potable water for irrigating during and within 48 hours after measurable rainfall. Irrigation rules: Outdoor irrigation hours are limited to between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., irrigating with spray/sprinkler systems is permitted no more than twice a week and irrigating with drip irrigation systems is permitted up to three times a week |
| Watering lawns | Watering turf located in public street medians. District water may not be used to irrigate any new ornamental lawn in commercial and municipal landscapes (this rule applies to new and rehabilitated landscapes that require plan review by the District). Outdoor irrigation hours are limited to between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. Irrigating with spray or sprinkler systems is permitted no more than twice a week and irrigating with a drip irrigation system is permitted up to three times a week |
| Car washing | Customers are encouraged to take vehicles to a carwash facility that uses recycled water |
| Fixing leaks | Leaks must be fixed within 48 hours of being discovered |
| Read more | District website |
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission ’s main water sources are the Hetch Hetchy watershed and Alameda and Peninsula watersheds . The district's main reservoirs are the Hetch Hetchy and Cherry Valley reservoirs . San Francisco Public Utilities Commission also has access to a water bank at the Don Pedro Reservoir, where it can store excess water during wet years. Read more about it here .
Hetch Hetchy
Total capacity: 117.3 billion gallons
Cherry Valley
Total capacity: 89.1 billion gallons
What's restricted?
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is asking for voluntary 5% conservation for city residents and businesses, and 14% reduction for suppliers purchasing from SFPUC, in addition to enacting a temporary drought surcharge starting April 2022 .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Watering lawns |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Car washing |
State
recommendation
:
Taking cars to commercial car washes that use recycled water recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Fixing leaks |
State
recommendation
:
Required
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Read more | District website |
San Jose Water Co.
San Jose Water Co. is currently at Stage 3 Water Shortage , which means there is a severe water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 6 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 30%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
San Jose Water Co. ’s main water source is the Santa Clara Valley Water District . The district's main reservoirs are the Leroy Anderson and Lexington reservoirs .
Leroy Anderson
The Leroy Anderson Reservoir is currently limited to 3% capacity while the dam goes through earthquake retrofitting. Find more information on Valley Water reservoirs here.
Lexington
Total capacity: 7 billion gallons
What's restricted?
San Jose Water Co. is requiring mandatory 15% reduction in water use (excluding for business use), conducting residential water audits and raising rates .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use | Allowed Monday, Thursday for odd-numbered addresses; Tuesday, Friday for even-numbered addresses; Prohibited between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. and on nonporous areas like driveways |
| Watering lawns |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Car washing | Allowed with automatic shutoff nozzle on hose |
| Fixing leaks | Required within five days of notification |
| Read more | District website |
Daly City
Daly City is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
Daly City ’s main water source is the San Francisco Regional Water System and local groundwater . The district's main reservoir is the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir .
Hetch Hetchy
Total capacity: 117.3 billion gallons
What's restricted?
Daly City has citywide water restrictions in place .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Watering lawns | Prohibited from watering more than two days per week, and no watering between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. |
| Car washing | Prohibited, except at facilities using recycled or recirculated water |
| Fixing leaks |
State
recommendation
:
Required
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
Dublin San Ramon Services District
Dublin San Ramon Services District is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
Dublin San Ramon Services District ’s main water sources are the State Water Project, local groundwater and runoff and recycled water . The district's main reservoirs are the Oroville and Del Valle reservoirs .
Oroville
Total capacity: 1.2 trillion gallons
Del Valle
Total capacity: 25.1 billion gallons
What's restricted?
Dublin San Ramon Services District is asking for voluntary 15% reduction in water use .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Watering lawns | Outdoor irrigation hours limited to between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. and no more than three non-consecutive days a week |
| Car washing |
State
recommendation
:
Taking cars to commercial car washes that use recycled water recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Fixing leaks | Required within 24 hours of discovery |
| Read more | District website |
Redwood City
Redwood City is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
Redwood City ’s main water source is the San Francisco Regional Water System . The district's main reservoir is the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir .
Hetch Hetchy
Total capacity: 117.3 billion gallons
What's restricted?
Redwood City is asking for voluntary 15% reduction in water use .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use | Hosing prohibited on sidewalks and driveways |
| Watering lawns | Prohibited during and 48 hours after rain |
| Car washing | Prohibited without a shut-off nozzle |
| Fixing leaks |
State
recommendation
:
Required
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Read more | District website |
The City of Vallejo
The City of Vallejo is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
The City of Vallejo ’s main water sources are the Solano Water Project and the State Water Project . The district's main reservoirs are the Berryessa and Oroville reservoirs .
Berryessa
Total capacity: 522 billion gallons
Oroville
Total capacity: 1.2 trillion gallons
What's restricted?
The City of Vallejo is requiring new water conservation measures, with violations resulting in potential fines .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Watering lawns |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Car washing |
State
recommendation
:
Taking cars to commercial car washes that use recycled water recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Fixing leaks |
State
recommendation
:
Required
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
The City of Santa Clara
The City of Santa Clara is currently at Stage 2 Water Shortage , which means there is a moderate water shortage. The water levels of the district's reservoirs are trending downward, water levels in wells are more than 4 feet below ground level or the water system's production is down at least 20%. Customers must comply with restrictions on nonessential water use.
Where does the water come from?
The City of Santa Clara ’s main water sources are the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the San Francisco Regional Water System and local groundwater . The district's main reservoirs are the Lexington, Leroy Anderson and Hetch Hetchy reservoirs .
Lexington
Total capacity: 7 billion gallons
Leroy Anderson
The Leroy Anderson Reservoir is currently limited to 3% capacity while the dam goes through earthquake retrofitting. Find more information on Valley Water reservoirs here.
Hetch Hetchy
Total capacity: 117.3 billion gallons
What's restricted?
The City of Santa Clara is requiring mandatory 15% reduction in water use .
| activity | restrictions |
|---|---|
| Hose and sprinkler use |
State
recommendation
:
Watering one day less per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall, watering during the cooler parts of the day and using a weather-based irrigation controller recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Watering lawns | Outdoor watering restricted to three days a week (see schedule), irrigation prohibited between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. |
| Car washing |
State
recommendation
:
Taking cars to commercial car washes that use recycled water recommended
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Fixing leaks |
State
recommendation
:
Required
|
See all statewide recommendations
|
| Read more | District website |
Other water districts
The Chronicle is currently tracking water shortages and water use restrictions for the 15 largest Bay Area water districts by population served. Other districts that serve the Bay Area are listed below:
- City of Mountain View
- California Water Service Co.-South San Francisco
- California Water Service Co.-Bear Gulch
- City of San Bruno
- North Coast County Water District
- Estero Municipal Improvement District
- City of Burlingame
- City of East Palo Alto
- Mid-Peninsula Water District
- City of Millbrae
- Coastside County Water District
- City of Menlo Park
- Westborough Water District
- Town of Hillsborough
About the data
The Chronicle is tracking water shortages and water use restrictions in the 15 largest Bay Area water districts by population served. Water shortage stages are based on monthly reports from the California Water Resources Control Board. Due to the complex nature of water reporting, those reports lag by about two months. To keep the information current, the Chronicle checks the websites of individual districts weekly. Water usage restrictions are gathered through Chronicle reporting.
Reservoir Levels
Water districts draw water from many sources, and often trade or buy water from one another based on need. For each district, we show the largest reservoirs from which the district draws water, by total capacity.
Reservoir levels are updated on a monthly basis, from data provided by the California Department of Water Resources . Some are updated on a daily basis. The averages shown are historical averages for the current month for as long as the California Department of Water Resources keeps records.
Drought Zones
The drought map provides a look back at drought conditions based on how much precipitation happened during the previous timespan, labels areas of identified drought by intensity and classifies potential impacts in each zone.
Drought Impact Zones are updated on a weekly basis, from data provided by U.S. Drought Monitor , produced through a partnership between between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.