At the March 13 City Council meeting, the Grover Beach City Council approved rolling back the City’s water shortage declaration from Stage 3 to Stage 1. Grover Beach residents are no longer subject to mandatory water restrictions and financial penalties due to water usage.
“I would like to thank all of our residents for demonstrating their resilience and commitment to our community by complying with these water restrictions over the past several months,” said Mayor Karen Bright. “Our collective effort has helped us get through this historic drought and maintain such a critical resource for everyone in Grover Beach.”
Under the Stage 1 water shortage declaration, all customers are encouraged to voluntarily reduce their water consumption between 0% to 10%. Customers are not subject to financial penalties under Stage 1. In accordance with the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP), the appropriate declaration level is determined by current climate conditions and water supply conditions. Over the last few months, Grover Beach has experienced approximately 35 inches of precipitation this winter, increasing water levels in Lopez Lake and the Santa Maria Groundwater, which are the City’s two principal water sources. Lopez Lake’s current volume is 32,500 Acre-feet, exceeding the reservoir’s 25,000 acre-feet shortage capacity indicator. The last four readings for the Santa Maria Groundwater also indicate higher groundwater levels that are reassuring.
In May 2021, the Council enacted a Stage 1 water shortage declaration with voluntary water conservation compliance. A year later, Council enacted a Stage 2 water shortage declaration with a 10% mandatory reduction requirement without penalties. Due to dire drought conditions in the region, the City elevated the water shortage declaration to Stage 3 with a 20% mandatory reduction requirement with potential penalties in September 2022.
“We are thankful that our water supply indicates that we can roll back water restrictions to Stage 1 for our residents,” said Grover Beach City Manager Matthew Bronson. “While we have reduced restrictions and removed penalties, we encourage residents to still be mindful of their water usage as we continue on this path of water resiliency.”
Despite the City’s transition back to Stage 1, the City continues to offer rebates opportunities through its water conservation programs and evaluate additional water supply options. In 2022, Grover Beach partnered with Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach to create Central Coast Blue, a recycled water treatment facility located in Grover Beach and expected to come online in 2025. Central Coast Blue will help mitigate future water shortages by serving as an additional sustainable resource that produces high-quality water for the region.
The City will continue to monitor water conditions and intends to provide an update with recommendations to Council this fall. For more information and tips on water conservation, visit the City’s website.