Does the Water Authority have a strategy or plan to deal with dry conditions?
Yes. In May 2006, the Water Authority board of directors approved a Drought Management Plan developed in concert with its 24 member agencies. The plan contains a drought response matrix that includes a list of water supply stages, actions available to the Water Authority during each stage, and guidelines for evaluating and taking such actions. The plan was formally activated in May 2007 in response to worsening water supply conditions. It can be reviewed at: http://www.sdcwa.org/manage/pdf/DroughtManagementPlanFinal.pdf. Here is a quick summary of the plan’s stages: Normal : Water supplies match demand, with some water left in local reservoirs for future use. Water agencies encourage wise water use and operate under standard procedures. Voluntary Supply Management: MWD withdraws water to meet current-year demands. The Water Authority encourages increased voluntary conservation, monitors supply and storage conditions, and adjusts operations to maximize storage. This is the current stage
