Environment

Water Consumption

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Average Water Usage Falls Between July 2021 and July 2022

Given San Bernardino County’s arid climate, effective water management is essential to ensure that the county has an ample water supply now and in the future.  As of October 2020, water usage reports to the state are required for urban water suppliers. This indicator measures residential water consumption in gallons per capita per day from urban water suppliers serving San Bernardino County.

TREND

On average, according to data by water districts reporting usage statistics, San Bernardino County residential consumers used an estimated 123 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) in July 2022, down from 128 GPCD in July 2021.[1]

GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON

San Bernardino County’s July 2022 GPCD rate of 123 is above the statewide July 2022 rate of 105 GPCD.  Within San Bernardino County, the estimated average rate ranged from a low of 66 GPCD reported by City of Big Bear Department of Water and Power to a high of 230 GPCD reported by Yucaipa Valley Water District, which serves both San Bernardino County and Riverside County residents. Residential water usage can differ due to regional variations in climate, precipitation, land use, tourism, income, and local supplier water costs, usage regulations, and conservation programs.

PER CAPITA WATER USAGE VARIES DRAMATICALLY ACROSS COUNTY
Residential Gallons per Capita per Day Among San Bernardino County Water Suppliers Reporting for July 2022

* These water districts serve portions of Riverside County as well as San Bernardino County.
Note: This chart includes urban water suppliers serving San Bernardino County that have more than 3,000 connections or deliver more than 3,000 acre-feet of water in a year. The countywide GPCD is an average of the GPCD rate for each supplier and is therefore a rough estimate of countywide usage.
Source: State Water Resources Control Board, June 2014 – July 2022 Urban Water Supplier Monthly Reports (www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/conservation_portal/conservation_reporting.html)

[1] The countywide GPCD is an average of the GPCD rate for each supplier and is therefore a rough estimate of countywide usage.  Water usage reports between November 2017 and October 2020 were voluntary, resulting in many suppliers choosing not to report. Consequently, average calculations of the GPCD for San Bernardino County in this period are not reliable or comparable to current estimates.

1As of November 2017, water usage reports to the state are voluntary for urban water suppliers. Consequently, suppliers reporting data varies from month-to-month.     2Population data are sourced to the State Water Resources Control Board and the California Department of Finance, Table E-1, January 2020 3The countywide GPCD average was calculated by averaging the GPCD rate for each supplier and is meant to be a rough estimate of countywide usage.