"Unknown to many people, Santa Clara County - like Los Angeles and most other urban areas in California - has seen its overall water use drop in recent decades, even as population has grown. Total water use in Santa Clara County has fallen 20% since 2000, while population grew by 25% over the same time. The reason: The district has spent millions of dollars to pay people to remove lawns and replace them with water-efficient landscaping, and on rebates for low-water appliances."
"The Pacheco Reservoir would have been the largest new reservoir built in the Bay Area since 1998 when Los Vaqueros Reservoir was constructed in eastern Contra Costa County. But soaring cost overruns, a lack of interest among other water agencies to help pay construction costs and share the water, and a decision by the federal Bureau of Reclamation not to allow water from federal projects to be stored in the reservoir, marked the end."
Santa Clara Valley Water District killed a $3.2 billion plan for the Pacheco Reservoir after cost overruns, limited partner interest, and the Bureau of Reclamation barring federal water storage. The district serves about 2 million South Bay residents and approved a 25-year, $3.9 billion roadmap that blends new reservoir projects, groundwater storage, and recycled water. Overall water use in Santa Clara County has fallen 20% since 2000 while population grew 25%, driven by incentives for replacing lawns, rebates for low-water appliances, and statewide low-water plumbing building codes. District leaders emphasize ensuring reliable, safe tap water for residents.
Read at The Mercury News
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