 OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) -- The coming heat wave worries officials at the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
EBMUD water supplies are dwindling, and if dry conditions continue over the next few weeks, mandatory water rationing may be required to safeguard the shrinking supply, district spokesman Charles Hardy.
Current data shows the Sierra snow pack that makes up the bulk of EBMUD’s water supply is only yielding about half of what it is normally expected in runoff. Although January and February were wet months, there has been virtually no rain or snow of significance since then.
March was the second driest for the East Bay watershed and fifth driest for the Mokelumne watershed in its 85-year history. So far April has been the driest to date. Combined with last year’s dry winter, this has created a projected supply shortage that is the greatest threat to the EBMUD’s water supply since the end of the last drought in 1991.
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East Bay Municipal Utility District
(Photo of Camanche Reservoir from EBMUD)
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KCBS' Chris Filippi reports
