Californians have made great progress in recent years embracing wise water use as a daily habit however, our state's water future remains uncertain due to precipitation variability and a changing climate. It is more critical that Californians adopt sustainability, embrace new approaches and technology, and work together to Save Our Water for a secure future.

- California Department of Water Resources

Current Water Status - No restrictions; please continue to practice water conservation measures to avoid future water emergency restriction implementations.

Water Conservation Kits

Free water conservation kits are available! Call the Department of Public Works at (707) 961-2823 Ext. 131 or email waterconservation@fortbragg.com to request your water saving devices!

Would you like to share your water conservation tips with your community? Send an email to waterconservation@fortbragg.com.

Fort Bragg's Water Sources

The City of Fort Bragg’s staff closely monitors their water supply system as it relies solely on three surface water sources: Waterfall Gulch (tributary to Hare Creek), Newman Gulch (tributary to Noyo River), and the Noyo River (intake is at Madsen Hole). In 2015, the City’s water supply system could only store small amounts of water that provided enough to maintain proper water system pressure and to provide a safety margin for fire-fighting flows. Five years later, the City has made great progress with water storage by including an additional 1.5 million gallon finished water storage tank and the Summers Lane Reservoir with a raw water capacity of 14.7 million gallons. This brings our total water storage capacity to 22.6 million gallons. During the winter and spring, pumping of the Noyo River is used only to supplement the Waterfall Gulch and Newman Gulch sources. The two tributary sources generally provide a higher quality of raw water as they gravity-feed to the water treatment plant, whereas water from the City’s Noyo River diversion must be pumped. As summer progresses and the flows in the tributary streams diminish, the Noyo River diversion is used more frequently and in greater quantities. By making small reductions in our water usage today, we may avoid a higher level Water Emergency later.

Save Our Water - Pledge to Protect Every Drop!

The City of Fort Bragg is committed to partnering with our residents and local businesses on water saving technology and equipment to better utilize our water supply. Staff will continue to monitor water flow operations attentively, day-to-day, to prepare and implement future water emergencies as needed. We encourage all city residents and water customers to continue to conserve water. Share your water conservation tips with your community by sending them to waterconservation@fortbragg.com. They will be published on this websites "WaterTips". Report water wasting! Contact the Department of Public Works at (707) 961-2823 or email waterconservation@fortbragg.com to report water wasting.

In an effort to assist with educating Fort Bragg visitors and guests, the City of Fort Bragg is providing local businesses with pre-printed free table tents (while supplies last) that remind visitors that the City, like many communities in California, is experiencing drought conditions and is under voluntary water conservation restrictions. The first table tent is targeted to restaurant patrons and reminds our visitors that the water used to serve a glass of water, includes the water to wash the glass at a factor of three to four times the contents. The second table tent is targeted to overnight guests, asking them to please help Fort Bragg save water by incorporating a few easy practices. If your restaurant or lodging establishment would like free pre-printed water conservation table tents, please contact the Department of Public Works at (707) 961-2823, ext. 131 or send a request to waterconservation@fortbragg.com.

Visit the state's Save Our Water webpage for additional conservation data, programs and available rebates. Water Conservation. It's for life.

"What's Goin' On"

City of Fort Braggs' Public Works Analyst, Sandy Arellano, sits with Council Member Lindy Peters on Channel 3's local show "What's Goin' On", for a one-on-one regarding the City's water situation. Recorded July 2021.

Water Conservation Tips from the Community

How do you save water?

Send us your conservation tips by email to waterconservation@fortbragg.com or call the Public Works Department at (707) 961-2823 Ext. 131.

Brad Bergman
25 ways to conserve water in the home and yard: Water Conservation

Bob Silva
Install a showerhead shut-off valve between the shower arm and the showerhead. If you have a handheld shower attachment, the valve can be installed where the unit attaches to the shower arm or at either end of the tubing. You will save more water, without showering hurriedly, than you would by taking the 3 minute shower (which has water running while you’re shampooing and soaping up). Just get yourself wet, close the valve (turns the water off), shampoo and soap up while the water is off, open the valve (turns the water on) and rinse. The water temperature is already set when you turn it back on again to rinse. Showerhead shut-off valves are in the $5 to $15 range and can be bought at any of our local hardware stores.

Keep a 5 gallon bucket in the shower. Place it under the bathtub faucet while adjusting the water temperature prior to showering and move it to a safe convenient spot in the tub to catch water while showering. Use the bucket water for flushing the toilet or for outdoor use.

Scour the bathtub just before showering and let your shower water rinse the tub. When scouring the kitchen sink, countertop, or bathroom sink, use a flexible squeegee to remove most of your wet scouring powder before rinsing. Flexible squeegees are unlike traditional squeegees. They are usually made completely of silicone and are meant to be used for drying cars. They are available at our local auto parts stores and hardware stores with an auto department. Use them for wiping down the walls, shower curtain and tub after showering to prevent mildew growth.

Install a faucet aerator with a pause or shut-off feature on the kitchen and bathroom faucets. Use the pause or shut-off when soaping up your hands and between dishes when rinsing. The water temperature is set when you initially turn the water on with the handles so time and water are saved by using that feature instead of turning water on and off at the handles. Aerators with a shut-off or pause can be found at any of our local hardware stores for under $10.

Line countertop compost bins with newspaper to keep them clean. Fold a couple of sheets of newspaper into an origami cup (a basic fold - instructions can be found online) and put that in the bin. Then when you’re ready to empty it, the newspaper will lift right out to go into the green container or your compost pile. It saves water by avoiding having to clean the inside of the bin with each emptying.

Frank Davis
While waiting for the sink water to get hot, catch this water and use it in your coffee pot.

Angela Liebenberg
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has a rebate program for replacing toilets, and removing turf and replacing it with landscapes that require little water at California single-family residences to support the State's drought response. Save Our Water

Sandra Mae Liljeberg
Take short showers, no running water to wash dishes, wash less clothes in a week, save shower water in a bucket till the water gets hot, make sure you have no leaks in your toilet, hoses or pipes.

Ann Jamgochian
Shower tokens for five-minute showers at all motels.

Megan Smithyman
Install low flow, gray water toilets.

Save Our Water Poster Contest

Dana Gray School students were invited to participate in the City of Fort Bragg's Water Conservation POSTER CONTEST to take on the challenge of showing their community why and how it is important to save and protect our water.