Water is too precious to use just once. That is why Santa Rosa Water recycles and beneficially reuses nearly 7 billion gallons of water each year. In a normal year, two-thirds of our recycled water is used to recharge the Geysers steamfields, producing clean and renewable energy for more than 100,000 homes in the North Bay. We also provide water for urban and agricultural irrigation in the summer months, offsetting demands on other precious local water supplies.  

With below average rainfall, the dry conditions have also impacted our projected recycled water availability. Our recycled water production for agriculture use is critically low. In fact, it’s the lowest it has ever been in the last 35 years. To manage and preserve recycled water supplies as much as possible, Santa Rosa Water is closely monitoring and managing flows to the Geysers.  We also are working closely with our regional partners to optimize supplies throughout the winter with little rainfall to date.    

We are continuing to update our agricultural customers and the Farm Bureau on recycled water storage and projected availability so that they can plan and accommodate potential recycled water shortages in the upcoming irrigation season.