Water Supply and Fire Protection

Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the devastating Los Angeles County Wildfires, and we welcome those who have now joined our community. In light of current dry conditions and ongoing concerns, Montecito Water District would like to reassure the public of its preparedness and commitment to providing adequate water supply for the community. Building on General Manager Nick Turner’s community update at the Montecito Association’s Board Meeting Tuesday, January 21, here are key points:

Water Supply is Abundant and Reservoirs are Full

Robust water supplies are readily accessible in local storage. The District’s well-diversified water portfolio is bolstered by two consecutive years of above average rainfall. Eight fully operational reservoirs keep 10 million gallons at-the-ready during fire conditions, and our access to regional reservoirs more than doubles this capacity. Real-time production capability from combined water sources is as much as 15 million gallons daily. As a point of reference, the entire District’s peak summer demand on a hot day is about six million gallons. In an emergency situation the District could have the capacity to produce and supply more than double this demand. 

Infrastructure is in Service, Operational,

and Continuously Monitored

This includes reservoirs, pumps, emergency generators, and 880 fire hydrants District-wide that are maintained regularly in collaboration with the local Fire Protection Districts. Consistent modeling and field testing ensures that the water system complies with fire flow requirements. Backup power generators are in place, maintained, and regularly exercised at important infrastructure locations, e.g. pump stations, treatment plants, and District headquarters. These generators are designed to activate automatically upon power failure, averting water service interruptions.

Staff

A dedicated team of certified and trained professionals carefully monitors the water system and current conditions, including weather events, taking precautions as needed. For example, when forecasts indicate increased fire risk, reservoir levels are adjusted to increase local water storage and availability. Staff are prepared to respond quickly, at all times of day, and have equipment and resources to make timely repairs if needed. 

Partnerships

The Montecito Water District is in constant communication with Montecito Fire Protection District, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, and additional regional partners for the safety of this community.

Current Dry Conditions

Santa Barbara County is again in drought. The past three months are nearly the driest first quarter of the water year on record. As of January 24, 2025, we’d received less than an inch of rainfall, compared to 6-8” on average. (You’ll keep hearing from us about rebates and water use efficiency!) Dry conditions increase fire risk, and while we certainly hope it’s not the case, the District is prepared to deliver water. The three-year water supply outlook is favorable thanks to recent rains and planning for resilience.

Individual Preparedness

Serving water to meet this community’s needs is top priority every day. Through planning and actions, the District constantly improves its practices using lessons learned from fires in this and other communities. While we want to encourage some community confidence, it is important to note that public water systems are designed to provide water for fire protection yet may not be sufficient under all conditions. Urban systems are built to supply water for fighting fires in residential areas of limited scale, not large-scale fast-moving wildfires. Community safety is a team effort – please stay alert and take every precaution to stay safe.