Featured Story Archive

On September 9, 2014 the Goleta Water District Board of Directors declared a Stage II Water Shortage Emergency and established mandatory water use restrictions necessary to cut water use by 25% district-wide.  Even with customer investment in a diverse water supply portfolio and careful management, the declaration was triggered… Read more

SAFE Water Supplies Ordinance: In 1991 voters of the Goleta Water District passed the SAFE Water Supplies Ordinance, which sets forth conditions the District must meet in order to approve new or additional water connections.  New and additional water connections are typically requested for development projects such as housing, commercial, and retail projects. The Safe Ordinance prohibits the District… Read more

Application for Exception to Water Use Restrictions An exception allows a customer to be relieved of a particular regulation that would otherwise create undue hardship, and may be granted only under certain circumstances. Click here for the Application for Exception. Customers may submit an exception… Read more

The District Board of Directors declared a Stage II Water Shortage Emergency on September 9, 2014. The District set a 25% district-wide reduction in water usage to help extend available water supplies.  The declaration is consistent with the requirements of the District’s adopted Drought Preparedness and Water Shortage Contingency Plan and statewide emergency conservation regulations recently adopted… Read more

On March 17, 2015, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency regulations to encourage water conservation statewide in response to the historic drought. On April 1, 2015, Governor Brown issued an Executive Order on actions necessary to address California's severe drought conditions. The Executive Order… Read more

On March 11, 2014, the Goleta Water District (District) declared a Stage 1 Water Shortage and called for a voluntary 20% water use reduction.  Since that time, customers have reduced their water use by 8%.  Due to persistent drought conditions, a Stage 2 Water Shortage Declaration is scheduled for consideration by the District Board of Directors on September 9, and will call for more stringent, mandatory… Read more

The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) built the Bradbury Dam and associated facilities along the Santa Ynez River in the 1950s creating what we know now as Lake Cachuma. Today, the Federal Project provides approximately 85% of the water supplies for more than 250,000 residents and 12,000 acres of agriculture along the South Coast of Santa Barbara County. Since 1993 the five Cachuma Member… Read more

Droughts occur with unpredictable frequency, intensity, and duration. Developing and maintaining a safe and reliable water supply portfolio to serve its customers is a Goleta Water District (GWD or District) priority, including preparing for drought and water shortages. During a drought or other water shortage, the Goleta Water District Board of Directors will consider drought severity indicators and… Read more

Lake Cachuma, which serves as the primary water supply for over 200,000 people in southern Santa Barbara County, is currently at less than 36% of capacity due to three consecutive years of drought.  Projections speculate water levels could drop below the current intake level within this year.  The Emergency Pumping System Project at Lake Cachuma is necessary to maintain flow to South Coast and will… Read more

The District received a Goleta Valley Beautiful (GVB) Award in the category of Neighborhood Enhancement for the San Ricardo Well Site. The 40th Annual Awards and Benefit event was held on Sunday, May 4th, 2014 at the Rancho La Patera Stow House. Goleta Valley Beautiful is a nonprofit environmental, educational and community service organization with an emphasis on urban forestry for public areas. It… Read more