A strong El Niño is building in the Pacific Ocean, and forecasters predict it could bring a wet winter to Southern California. You may be wondering what this weather pattern is and whether it impacts your drinking water. While Mother Nature may be unpredictable, the operations that keep your drinking water safe and clean remain constant at YourSoCalTap water agencies.

What is an El Niño?
You may have heard the term El Niño in the news recently. So what does it actually mean? An El Niño is caused by warmer sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and has the potential to raise sea levels and increase flooding. While the northern United States is expected to see warmer temperatures, the El Niño will bring a wet winter to the southern half. According to the Climate Prediction Center, chances for a historic El Niño that would exceed the the strength of previous events dating back to 1950 is high. This change in the weather pattern means water systems could see a much higher volume of water in our region.

How does this impact Southern California water?
The predicted increase in stormwater could affect Your SoCal Tap Water member agencies in a few ways:

• More rain could mean more water supply: Heavy rainfall allows our member agencies to capture, recharge and store more water for future use, including drinking water.
• Infrastructure is built for big storms: Recharge basins, treatment plants and pipelines at our member agencies are designed to handle high-volume storm seasons.
• Ongoing investments matter more than ever: Our member agencies plan for climate patterns like El Niño by replacing and maintaining the infrastructure that delivers high-quality tap water to the public.

What can you do to help? Let rain do the work.
While we’re watching water supplies across California and the West, there’s something much simpler you can do at home: turn off your sprinklers when it rains.

Better yet, a smart irrigation controller can automatically adjust watering based on weather and landscape conditions, so you’re not watering when Mother Nature has already done the job. Check available rebates with your local water agency to make the switch easier.

How is Your SoCal Tap Water planning ahead for future weather events?
As climate conditions shift, planning ahead becomes key. The Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CARP) is a game plan that identifies climate risks and creates a roadmap to reduce vulnerabilities for the Santa Ana River Watershed. Learn more about how you can get involved.

Maintaining water systems, capturing water for future use and planning for wet winters are just some of the ways agencies provide clean drinking water. Visit YourSoCalTapWater.org to learn more.

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