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Government » Department Directory » Utilities Department

Water

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  • A aerial image taken of the construction work to build the new groundwater well in San Luis Obispo near the Bob Jones Trail
    New Groundwater Well Under Construction

    We're building a more resilient water supply for the City!

    Learn more
  • A picture of Pismo Beach, California
    Get Involved in the Future of Local Water

    Provide input on SLO County's DESAL Plan!

    Learn more
  • City of SLO Water Rebate Program
    Water Conservation Rebate Program

    Water customers can now receive a rebate for upgrading to water-efficient devices.

    Learn more
  • Construction Water Permit

    Applications for 2024-2025 Construction Water Permits will open soon!

    Learn more

Get to know YOUR Water 

We know the community of San Luis Obispo cares about water. That’s why the City of San Luis Obispo has invested in multiple water sources to meet its water supply needs. The City has four primary water supply sources including Whale Rock Reservoir, Salinas Reservoir, Nacimiento Reservoir, and recycled water. Historic groundwater wells have also been kept in operable, stand-by positions in the event that they are ever needed.  Currently, the City has a water supply portfolio that allows for the safe and continuous use of up to 10,000 acre-feet of water each year, which well exceeds its annual need of about 4,700 acre-feet per year. To see  the City’s current reservoir capacities go here.

The City remains committed to the responsible management of the community’s water supplies. Because of work conducted during and after the 2011-2015 drought, such as the participation in the production of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) to better understand groundwater supplies and availability, the acquisition of an additional 2,200 acre-feet of water from Nacimiento Reservoir each year, and upgrading the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) to allow for expanded use of recycled water, the City is positioned to handle periods of limited rainfall. The lessons learned from past droughts continue to drive proactive planning and position the City to maintain a reliable and resilient water supply. The City constantly reassesses water availability and strives to provide clear communication to the public regarding forecasted conditions and any potential community impacts.

  • Water Sources

    Water Sources

    Learn where the City gets it's water from.

  • Distribution System

    Distribution System

    A complex delivery system designed to provide continuous drinking water and fire suppression.

  • Water Treatment

    Water Treatment

    The water treatment plant provides clean, safe drinking water every day of the year.

  • A graphic showing the underground water pipes that the City of San Luis Obispo owns and which ones Property owners own.

    Lead Service Line Info

    Learn about water service lines and how the City ensures water-safety!

  • Water Conservation

    Conservation

    Help continue to make water conservation a San Luis Obispo Way of life.

  • Plumbing Retrofit Program

    Plumbing Retrofit Verification Program

    Learn how to get your property's indoor plumbing certified.

  • Drought

    Drought

    See what the City of San Luis Obispo has done and continues to do to prepare for drought.

  • button to learn about your water meter

    Understanding Your Water Meter

    Learn how to read and identify leaks using your water meter

  • over irrigation water waste

    Report Water Waste

    Water conservation is a San Luis Obispo way of life. Help us save water by reporting instances of water waste

See the latest news

Apr 7 Council Meeting Recap

Post Date:04/09/2026 3:12 PM

The San Luis Obispo City Council met on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Below is a recap of the meeting. Review the full recorded video and agenda packet.

 

Presentations and Consent Agenda 

The meeting began with several proclamations declaring April as:

  • Month of the Child, recognizing the importance of investing in children, supporting families and working together to ensure that every child in San Luis Obispo has the opportunity to grow, learn and thrive.
  • National Arab American Heritage Month, recognizing the many contributions of San Luis Obispo’s Arab American community members and acknowledging that their lived experiences have often been misunderstood or overlooked.
  • Earth Month, recognizing and celebrating SLO Earthfest 2026 for its leadership in promoting environmental awareness, climate action, and community collaboration.
  • Sexual Assault Awareness Month, recognizing the important work done by Lumina Alliance in creating a path toward safety and healing for survivors.

Then the City manager gave a brief presentation on City programs, services and events.

There were also several routine matters on the Consent Agenda which the Council approved with a single vote including:

  • Establishing the City’s Legislative Action Platform for 2026, which helps the City quickly respond to state and federal laws that affect San Luis Obispo, and appointing the Mayor, City manager, and City Attorney as liaisons between the League of California Cities and San Luis Obispo.
  • Awarding a construction contract for a project that will replace the roof at the Utilities Department administration building, 879 Morro Street.

Business Items

Report Shows Progress on Housing, Safety, Homelessness and More 
Collage of photos including City Hall, a Fire Department hat, hills of San Luis Obispo and moreThe City Council reviewed and accepted the 2025 General Plan Annual Report, which tracks progress on housing, safety, homelessness, growth and other community priorities. The City’s General Plan is a long-term blueprint for how San Luis Obispo will grow, develop, and change over time. Staff presented an overview of the report that shows the City is making progress on housing, climate action, and community goals. For example, the City has maintained an average annual growth rate of 1%; in 2025, 198 new homes were added to the City’s housing stock, including 104 accessory dwelling units. Over the last five years, the City has added 2,183 units to its housing stock. The City also removed 47 tons of trash while responding to and cleaning up 247 homeless encampments in 2025. At the same time, San Luis Obispo also saw growth in non-residential and commercial properties, adding about 176,673 square feet of net new non-residential floor area, mostly attributed to the new Marriott Hotel project in the San Luis Ranch area. In transportation and circulation, more people are riding the bus; SLO Transit reported nearly 660,000 passenger trips in 2025, a 17% increase from the previous fiscal year and the City completed several transportation projects including the 2024 Paving Project. Download the 2025 General Plan Annual Report for more details on the City’s progress in housing, safety, homelessness, economic development, transportation, open space, parks and recreation and more.

Study Session: Progress on Climate Action Plan 
Climate Action Plan progress report with photo collageThe Council also reviewed progress on the City’s Climate Action Plan and discussed next steps to update the plan. Staff reported on success to date, including bringing in over $57 million in outside funding, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by about 20% since 2005, and moving toward cleaner energy. Staff also noted challenges, including more driving and natural gas use, which means the City is now on track to reduce emissions by about 50% by 2035 instead of the original 70%. The Council directed staff to incorporate new and creative ideas in the updated plan that would help San Luis Obispo reach its climate action goals. Those ideas include making clean energy and transportation easier and more affordable by expanding EV charging, trying new transit options, and helping residents install low-emission home upgrades. The Council also directed staff to strengthen partnerships to tackle bigger challenges like regional travel and building emissions that the City can’t solve alone.

Looking Ahead

The City Council will hold the next meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers office at City Hall. Attendees of the City Council Advisory Body meetings are eligible for one hour of complimentary parking in designated City garages. Learn more at Parking for Public Meetings.

To provide input or view upcoming agendas visit www.slocity.org/agendas. To receive updates from the City, sign up at www.slocity.org/Subscribe or follow us on social media.

Media Contact: Whitney Szentesi, Public Communications Manager, 805-783-7716, wszentes@slocity.org

Return to full list >>

FAQ Box

  • How do I learn more about my drinking water?

    The City of San Luis Obispo encourages people to learn more about their drinking water. Learn more at:

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/data-research/facts-stats/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/index.html

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency http://water.epa.gov/drink/

    You can also contact the US EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

  • Why is chlorine added to City water?
    To protect drinking water from disease-causing organisms, or pathogens, water suppliers add a disinfectant, such as chlorine. The practice of disinfection has nearly eliminated most acute waterborne diseases such as dysentery, typhoid fever, and cholera in the United States. However, disinfection practices can be complicated because disinfectants themselves can react with naturally occurring materials in the water to form by-products (Total Trihalomethanes -TTHM’s) which might potentially pose health risks. It is critical to provide protection from pathogens using disinfection, while simultaneously reducing potential health risks to the population from disinfection by-products.
  • Does the City use chlorine or chloramines?
    Chlorine is added as our secondary disinfectant to ensure the water is safe as it travels through our distribution system to our customers.  We do not use chloramines.
  • What is done to make the water safe to use?

    The City water system is regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board – Division of Drinking Water.  All of the water from surface water sources is treated at the City’s Water Treatment Plant through a very thorough treatment process.

  • How much water is treated each day?
    Approximately 5.5 million gallons are treated and used each day in the City.
More FAQs

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San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

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