Walbridge and Meyers Fires, August 2020

A Message From Grant Davis, General Manager:

The Walbridge Fire has not impacted Sonoma Water’s water supply facilities at this time. Tap water provided by Sonoma Water is safe to drink. There has been no impact to our system’s drinking water quality.

Sonoma Water employees are safely attending to our facilities to ensure water supply systems remain functional and continue to provide our community with ongoing, high quality drinking water. In fact, a group of Sonoma Water employees performed vegetation management around critical facilities to help firefighters if the Walbridge Fire reaches our facilities. 

Regarding the fire's potential impacts to Lake Sonoma, we are monitoring and coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on fire response. Read below about how Lake Sonoma is a critical water supply storage facility for our system. 

We remain vigilant and are coordinating with the appropriate responding agencies including the CalFire and the County’s Office of Emergency Services. Our hearts are heavy for those of our community who have lost their homes, and we thank the tremendous efforts of our first responders. Please stay safe and follow official evacuation orders.
  
 Grant Davis
 General Manager

Update 8/27/20: Emergency Water Conservation Request is Lifted

The Walbridge Fire has stabilized, weather conditions are favorable, and Sonoma Water’s water supply facilities are no longer in any immediate danger. As it has been throughout the fire emergency, our water is safe and we have experienced no issues with water quality or deliveries.

Therefore, we are lifting the Emergency Water Conservation Request that was issued at the beginning of the fires. Thank you to all our customers for saving water during the fire emergency. Your efforts are appreciated.

The response to the emergency conservation request was immediate and impressive. Together, we saved millions of gallons of water that allowed greater water storage for firefighting and emergency supplies.

But our water conservation efforts must continue. There is never enough water to waste. We have just had one of the driest rain years on record, and water conservation is something we can make part of our everyday lives.

For tips on how to save water both inside and outside of your home, please visit: www.savingwaterpartnership.org

Read the full Press Release 8/27/20: Emergency Water Conservation Request Is Lifted Due To Progress On Halting Spread Of The Walbridge Fire

Lake Sonoma Watershed – It’s importance and role in our drinking water

• There is no current impact to Sonoma Water’s water supply system or water quality. Tap water is safe to drink.   
• The fire is currently impacting the southern edge of the Lake Sonoma watershed. Sonoma Water is planning on the potential for impacts to its water supply system if the fire continues into the Lake Sonoma watershed.
• Sonoma Water relies on Lake Sonoma to hold and release water for water supply, flood control purposes and meeting minimum instream flow requirements in the Lower Russian River.
• Water released from Warm Springs Dam travels approximately 20 miles through Dry Creek and the Russian River before it reaches Sonoma Water’s water supply facilities located along the Russian River near Forestville.  Sonoma Water’s water supply facilities divert Russian River underflow that is filtered and treated by the alluvial sands and gravels adjacent to and beneath the Russian River.
• Sonoma Water has been collaborating for nearly two decades with researchers at the United States Geological Survey and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to understand the complex mechanisms that remove pathogens and other contaminants of concern by the alluvial sands and gravels.
• Wildfires can contaminate nearby streams and watersheds through mobilization of sediments, nutrients and dissolved organic matter, straining the capabilities of downstream municipal treatment facilities (Source:  CU Boulder)
• Current research indicates that fires can degrade surface water quality through erosion, ash deposition, increased sediment loads and/or elevated nutrient runoff (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus) that can spur algal blooms. (Source)
• Sonoma Water is coordinating closely with the County’s Emergency Operations Center along with its water contractors to ensure water quality is not impacted by the region’s fires.
• Sonoma Water conducts extensive water quality testing to ensure all state and federal water quality standards are met.
• Sonoma Water will continue to monitor water quality, fire conditions and coordinate with the appropriate emergency responders to ensure our water supply system remains safe.

Learn more about where our water comes from.