Level 4 Water Shortage Emergency Ends in Pasadena

Water deliveries via the Metropolitan Water District’s Upper Feeder Pipeline resumed late in the evening of March 28, marking the end of Pasadena ’s Level 4 water shortage emergency.

The watering ban in Pasadena Water and Power’s service territory has since been lifted.

The city’s ongoing Level 1 water shortage procedures will resume Tuesday, April 5. Watering will be permitted up to three days per week – Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturday only – before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

“Pasadena Water and Power customers once again proved they are outstanding water savers,” said PWP General Manager Phyllis Currie. “We are sincerely thankful to our residents, businesses, institutions, city departments and all others for all their efforts in helping us conserve during the pipeline shutdown.”

During the 10-day water shortage emergency, water consumption in PWP’s service territory was 38.4 percent less than the historical average demand in March over the past five years.

The supply/demand gap during the shutdown was also filled in part by five days of rain, which reduced demand for landscape watering; and a limited, unanticipated supply pumped in from a new treatment plant in Northwest Pasadena that came online during the final days of the shortage.

MWD, which supplies about 60 percent of Pasadena ’s water, stopped all water deliveries to Pasadena through its Upper Feeder Pipeline from March 18 until 10:30 p.m. on March 28 due to seismic retrofit activities at its F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in LaVerne. During the pipeline shutdown, Pasadena relied solely on its groundwater and reserves and enforced a ban on outdoor watering with few exceptions.

More information about water supply and conservation in Pasadena is available at www.cityofpasadena.net/savewater and (626) 744-6970.

As Governor Jerry Brown prepares to declare an end to the California drought tomorrow, Pasadena Water and Power officials are preparing to assess the local impact of the declaration.  Short-term drought conditions have improved due to storms and snow pack, but long-term water challenges may continue in Southern California .  The city of Pasadena will have further comment after the assessments have been completed.