How much water do we need?

The Santa Clara Valley Water District - and other California water suppliers - continuously face a crucial question: Will there be enough water to satisfy future demand?

If Santa Clara County enjoyed only average to wet years from now to the year 2020, current water supplies could probably meet demand - even with projected population growth. However, dry periods are a fact of life in California. District projections indicate that in future severe droughts the county could experience a water supply shortfall of 100,000 acre-feet — almost a third of current local water use.

Within Santa Clara County, most of the water goes to residential customers. Here is an estimate of how water is used:

• Residential 52%

• Commercial & public 24%

• Agricultural 9%

• Industrial 9%

• Other 9%

Planning for the future with an updated
Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP)
The goal of the IWRP update is to develop a balanced, flexible, long-term water supply plan that can provide a mix of water resources that meets the needs of the county through the year 2040. The district has identified more than 25 supply options for consideration in the future water supply mix. These include a variety of conservation and recycling projects, facility expansion, new treatment technologies, new storage, water-banking, water transfers, CALFED projects, and increases in groundwater recharge capacity.

Because of the uncertainty of future water supplies from traditional sources, water agencies including the district are looking for creative and alternative approaches. One trend points to greater emphasis on regional approaches and solutions to water quality and reliability issues.

Integrated Water Resources Planning Study (2003)

• Report (PDF 3 MB)
  December 2005

• Appendices (PDF 1 MB)
  December 2005

Download the IWRP Implementation Plan - June 1999
(PDF 2.7MB)

When the updated IWRP is completed, it will also be available to the public.

Additional information can be found in the district's Urban Water Management Plan and Groundwater Management Plan.

Key Term: acre-foot
One acre-foot equals approximately 326,000 gallons, the average amount of water used by two families of five in one year. An acre-foot of water would cover one acre one foot deep.

Top of page