Much of California depends on water from the northern part of the state. Currently, 25 million Californians rely on the water in Lake Oroville. Lake Oroville is the largest reservoir and sole source of hydropower from California's State Water Project and it sits right here in Butte County. Although we have this resource right in our backyard, our local communities are reliant upon groundwater from the Tuscan Aquifer, with local districts implementing their own standards:

• CalWater in Chico: (530) 893-6300

• CalWater in Oroville:  (530) 533-4034

• South Feather Water and Power in Oroville: (530) 533-4578

• Paradise Irrigation District:  (530) 877-4971

If you are a CalWater customer, you may qualify for rebates, free sprinkler nozzles, and free conservation kits. For more information and to sign up visit CalWater's website.

What are other regions doing?

• New study from the Pacific Institute demonstrates inequality in water use and conservation across socioeconomic groups in California.

• Residents supplied by Soquel Creek Water District are required to reduce their water use to 75 gallons per day or face heavy penalty rates.

• In Santa Cruz if you use more than you allotment, you get sent to Water School.

What about Greywater and Rainwater Catchment?

Using greywater is legal in California. In 2009, a drought motivated the state of California to update Chapter 16 of the California Plumbing Code to allow residential greywater use without a permit. Greywater is water from your bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines and is a constant and consistent water supply for landscaping in our area. Check out the San Francisco Greywater Installation Manual to help you design and install your own system.

Rainwater catchment means catching rain and storing it for use.  Despite popular misconception, rainwater capture is legal in the state of California. The Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 not only allows Californians to capture runoff from roof tops, it also does not require a water right permit. For the bill in full click here. BEC led rainwater catchment workshops in 2018. To build your own system, see our workshop instructions.

If you’d like to hire someone local to install your greywater and/or rainwater catchment systems, reach out to Gaia Creations Ecological Landscaping and Permaculture Solutions, a certified permaculture designer.