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.

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