The Tri-Valley is now in the third year of critically dry drought conditions.  With no end in sight, Zone 7 is urging residents and businesses to save water and meet the region's 15% water conservation goal. In March, Zone 7 missed the monthly goal and used more water than in 2020. Dwindling local storage reserves and a decrease in the State Water Project allocation means now is the time to adopt water-wise habits.  

Here are a few ways to maximize your water savings inside and outside your home:  

• Minimize all outdoor irrigation by not watering 3 days after a rainstorm. 

• Run sprinklers between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. to reduce evaporation.  

• Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when you have a full load.  

• Fix water leaks immediately, including small toilet or under the sink leaks. 

Learn more ways to conserve at zone7water.com/waterwise  

At the Regular Board of Directors meeting on April 20, 2022, the Zone 7 Water board approved continued funding and participation in the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) in a 5-2 vote. The approval of the funding request will continue the work towards the final environmental documents and permits, with Zone 7’s potential total share of the funding estimated at $4.75M for 2023 and 2024, which is 2.2% of the overall cost. On November 18, 2020, the Board approved the first two years of the planning phase, with Zone 7’s share of environmental planning costs at $2.8M for 2021 and 2022. 

The project is designed to provide much needed improvements to the water delivery system of the State Water Project. Zone 7 Water Agency, a State Water Project contractor who serves the Tri-Valley community, receives approximately 70% of its water through the Delta. 

Continued participation by Zone 7 in the planning costs will allow Zone 7 to:  

• Participate in the DCP in the future based on information developed  

• Allow access to information related to benefits and costs 

• Provide Zone 7 influence throughout the planning process  

Approval of this phase allows Zone 7 to remain a part of the planning process and provide input but does not require Zone 7 to commit to the final project. When full participation is up for consideration, the community will be engaged and the decision will come to the Board, with the results of the environmental planning process informing a final decision. 

Ten Livermore students were recognized in this year’s Livermore Water Conservation Art Contest at the April 25th Livermore City Council Meeting. This contest is an annual competition for Livermore’s K – 12th grade students to use artwork to explain the importance of water conservation.  

The grand prize winner of this year’s contest was Ananya Garg, a 7th grader at Mendenhall Middle School, whose artwork showed the journey of a single water droplet from snowfall to our homes. Abagail Dow, a homeschooled 4th grader, was awarded second place in the competition, while Annapoorani Amarnath, a 7th grader at Mendenhall Middle School, was awarded third place.  

Artwork from all ten finalists can be viewed online at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzGE2z and in-person at the Livermore Chamber of Commerce, located at 2157 First Street, during the month of May in celebration of “Drinking Water Awareness Month”.