Monthly Water Tracker
As of May 1, 2026
On March 24, 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced an increase in the 2026 south-of-delta Central Valley Project (CVP) allocation from 65% to 70% of historic Municipal and Industrial (M&I) use and from 15% to 20% of agricultural allocation. The State Water Project (SWP) allocation remains at 30% of contract amount for 2026, as announced by the California Department of Water Resources on January 29, 2026. Locally, there was above-average rainfall in April. Total storage in local reservoirs, with the exception of Anderson Reservoir, is near the historical average level for this time of year. Treated water deliveries were below average in April, and groundwater conditions remain healthy.
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Weather
- Rainfall in Santa Clara County
- Month of April, City of San José: 1.93 inches or 177% of the historical average for this month
- Rainfall year total = 14.96 inches or 109% of the historical average to date (rainfall year is July 1 to June 30).
- May 1, 2026, Northern Sierra snowpack was 7% of normal for this date
Local Reservoirs
Current local reservoir storage
- Total May 1 storage = 53,281 acre-feet
- No imported water was delivered into Calero Reservoir during April 2026
- Total estimated releases to streams (local and imported water) during April 2026 were 6,810 acre-feet (based on preliminary hydrologic data)
Groundwater
Groundwater conditions remain healthy throughout the county. Groundwater levels in most regional monitoring wells are comparable to those observed last month, with some wells exhibiting increases and others decreases. While most of the water levels are lower relative to April 2025, many are the same as, or higher than, the prior five-year average for April. The end of 2026 groundwater storage is projected to be in Stage 1 (Normal) of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Imported Water
- In April (through April 30th), the SWP operated Banks pumping plant with an average daily export of 1,777 acre-feet, resulting in a total export of 53,303 acre-feet from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for the month. This is the total amount pumped in April for the entire SWP to support the SWP allocation. Valley Water’s SWP contract provides Santa Clara County 2.5% of the total SWP contract quantity available each year
- In April (through April 30th), the CVP operated Jones pumping plant with an average daily export of 4,470 acre-feet, resulting in a total export of 134,098 acre-feet from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for the month. This is the total amount pumped in April for the entire CVP to support the south-of-delta CVP allocation. Valley Water’s CVP contract provides Santa Clara County 4.7% of the total CVP contract quantity available each year
- Delta flow and water quality requirements were controlling the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta export facilities this past month. Project facilities, including delta exports, were operated to maintain the Projects’ respective flow requirements and water quality standards in the delta for the month of April
Click here to find the State-Wide Reservoir Storage map and table
Treated Water
- Below average demands of 3,950 acre-feet were delivered in April
- This total is 63% of the five-year average for the month of April
- Year-to-date deliveries are 13,743 acre-feet or 67% of the five-year average
Conserved Water
- Saved 87,392 acre-feet in FY25 through Valley Water’s long-term conservation program (baseline year is 1992)
- Long-term program goal is to save nearly 100,000 acre-feet by 2030, 110,000 acre-feet by 2040, and 126,000 acre-feet by 2050
- On June 13, 2023, the Board of Directors adopted a resolution to support water conservation as a way of life in Santa Clara County and an ordinance with a set of permanent water waste prohibitions
Recycled Water
- Estimated April 2026 production = 1,021 acre-feet
- Estimated year-to-date through April = 3,287 acre-feet or 93% of the five-year average
- Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center produced an estimated 1.4 billion gallons (4,387 acre-feet) of purified water in 2025. Since the beginning of 2026, about 1,335 acre-feet of purified water has been produced. The purified water is blended with existing tertiary recycled water for South Bay Water Recycling Program customers