MWDOC Board Moves to Ease Regional Drought Regulations

Fountain Valley, CA (April 20, 2023) – After a record-setting wet season, and because of improved state, regional, and local water supply conditions, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC or District) has rescinded its call for voluntary 15% water savings according to the District’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP). Also, with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-523, local water agencies can now manage and calculate water use depending on their circumstances.

“The requirement for escalated water savings measures is no longer necessary for MWDOC due to the region’s replenishment of storage reserves and historically low consumption,” said MWDOC Board President Megan Yoo Schneider. “At the same time, we must continue to recognize that water-wise practices are important and beneficial for our community and environment long-term. We can and should continue to pursue water use efficiency by minimizing water waste through the continued promotion of education, resources, and action.”

Following the lowest reservoir levels ever recorded and the driest three-year period on record, the winter of 2022–2023 produced more than a dozen atmospheric river storms that dumped rain and snow across the state. The result – a record Sierra snowpack, and most of the state’s drought emergency declarations lifted.

In accordance with Executive Order N-5-23, the MWDOC Board unanimously decided to roll back the District’s WSCP from Level 2 to Level 0 while supporting the Governor’s outlawing of wasteful irrigation practices, such as watering during or after rainfall. MWDOC provides water-saving resources to help conserve water in the near term and offers rebates to residents and businesses to use water more efficiently permanently. For more information on what is available, visit www.mwdoc.com/savewater.

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The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) is a wholesale water provider and resource planning agency whose efforts focus on sound planning and appropriate investments in water supply, water use efficiency, public information and outreach, legislative advocacy, emergency preparedness, and water education for all ages. Through these efforts, MWDOC serves all 3.2 million Orange County residents.

MWDOC’s 27 retail water agencies, comprised of both city water departments and water districts, provide retail water services to the public.