EBMUD Worried About Water Supply Despite Rains

Despite above average rainfall in March, East Bay Municipal Utility District officials are casting a wary eye at their reservoirs and snowpack.

In a report issued to the EBMUD board on Tuesday, district officials said they may need to make a decision in late April whether to take action to protect the district's water supplies.

District officials reported Tuesday their reservoirs are at 73 percent of capacity, a status they denoted as "fair."

The rainfall in its East Bay watershed is 15.7 inches so far this season, about 65 percent of normal. In the Mokelumne basin, it's 22 inches, 55 percent of average.

The snowpack in the Mokelumne watershed, which supplies about 90 percent of EBMUD's water, is 36 percent of normal. Statewide, the snowpack is 46 percent of average.

In their report, district officials note EBMUD is fortunate that 2011 was a wet year. They say 2012 has been usually dry. Another dry winter could spell trouble because the district's reservoirs only hold enough water to meet customers' needs for two years.

In late April, as the rainy season ends, EBMUD will decide what actions to take to protect water supplies if a water shortage looms, ccording to the report.

EBMUD serves 1.3 million customers in a 331-square-mile area that includes western Contra Costa County, Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, Alameda, San Leandro, Castro Valley, the San Ramon Valley, Walnut Creek and Lamorinda.

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