As California’s worst-ever drought conditions persist, state and Federal water officials are clamping down on water supplies to a bevy of contractors
Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that the Central Valley Project would be zeroing out its allocation to municipal and industrial water contractors – largely municipalities – after announcing a 25 percent allocation in February.
Effective Friday, municipal water users of the Central Valley Project will only receive their minimum amounts of water resources for health and safety purposes.
The announcement of a cutback in water supplies for Valley communities now parity between contractors north and south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta as it relates to municipal water.
“We recognize this reduction has real impacts on our CVP contractors and the communities they serve,” said Reclamation regional director Ernest Conant.
“This is a very difficult water year for the Central Valley Project and all of California, leading to difficult outcomes and unprecedented actions. We do not take these decisions lightly and appreciate the collaboration of our CVP partners.”