The City of Huntington Beach’s water shortage contingency plan activation was rescinded as of April 1, 2023. This news comes as a result of an exceptionally wet winter and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s order to end statewide drought restrictions established in 2021. Surf City’s water shortage plan had limited outdoor watering to three days per week and prohibited filling ornamental water features. The plan also mandated water leaks be fixed within 48 hours of discovery and limited line flushing by city staff. All of these restrictions and prohibitions have been lifted.
The state recognized above average snow levels currently exist in most regions of the Sierra Nevada, with record snowfall in some areas. Some Southern California communities import water from these areas in addition to using water from local supplies. But the state noted that drought conditions continue to affect the Colorado River Basin, another key source of imported water. And many groundwater basins throughout the state remain depleted from overreliance and previous multi-year droughts. While statewide restrictions have been lifted, Newsom urged communities to continue efforts to build drought resilience and to protect vulnerable water supplies.
