By Jennifer Sawhney

Petaluma’s water consumption remains sustainable, and there should be enough water to meet the city’s demands for the next two and a half decades, according to a 377-page water management plan presented at last Monday's city council meeting.

“Our results from these assessments were very positive,” said Dannielle Favela, water resources and conservation manager for the city’s Water Resources and Utilities Department, at the June 8 meeting. Based on these analyses, “Petaluma is projected to have sufficient water supplies to meet all anticipated demands through 2050. No supply shortages were identified under the modeled normal year, single dry year, or multiple dry year scenarios,” she said.

But there are some uncertainties – climate change, future regulatory requirements, hydrological variability, and regional water supply conditions – that will require ongoing planning and attention, she said.

The Petaluma City Council voted to approve its state-mandated water management plan 6-0, with Councilmember Karen Nau absent.

The management plan is a long-range planning document focused on local water supply and delving into conservation, drought planning, and water management. The plan analyzes existing and projected water demand, water availability, water conservation, and service reliability through 2050, according to a staff report.

A key component of the plan is the city’s multi-step response plan for emergency water shortages and droughts. During the meeting, Favela outlined water restrictions specified in the city’s contingency plan for a full range of scenarios from short-term emergencies through sustained periods of drought.

Each stage calls for escalating water-use reductions, from a 10% reduction at stage one to more than 50% at stage six. (You can view the video where Favela explains the reductions here.)

The city has about 21,200 water connections, with an estimated 61,400 people living in its water service area, according to a staff report. Petaluma Water's primary potable water source is the Russian River via Sonoma Water, a Santa Rosa-based agency that distributes water to more than 600,000 residents of Sonoma and Marin counties.

Petaluma's water supply is supplemented by groundwater wells during emergencies and peak demand periods, and through the use of recycled water for irrigation customers.

“Overall, Petaluma is well-positioned to meet future water needs,” Favela said. “That success is the city’s ongoing commitment to water conservation. Conservation remains one of the most cost-effective and reliable water-supply strategies available.”

The city offers a range of water conservation programs including rebates, free mulch, and free installation of high-efficiency toilets, shower heads, and faucet aerators. 

Council adopted the last iteration of the Urban Water Management Plan in June 2021, which it amended in August 2022 in the midst of a drought that lasted until 2023.

Looking forward, staff project Petaluma’s population to reach approximately 77,300 by 2050, an increase over today of 15,900 residents or 25%. Yet as a result of continued water conservation efforts, staff estimate water use will increase by only 13.7% over the same period.