Weather

Turn Off Sprinklers In Gilroy This Weekend, Water Officials Ask

Even after the storms over the weekend, Santa Clara County will remain in a drought emergency and residents are asked to keep saving water.

For the drought to end, the region would need “several more storms,” according to Santa Clara Valley Water District Board Chair Tony Estremera.
For the drought to end, the region would need “several more storms,” according to Santa Clara Valley Water District Board Chair Tony Estremera. (Shutterstock)

GILROY, CA — Gilroy residents are being asked to turn off their sprinklers for the remainder of the week as an early-season rainstorm is expected to soak the Bay Area this weekend.

Even after the storms over the weekend, Santa Clara County will remain in a drought emergency and any amount of “significant rainfall” is not nearly enough to end the drought, Santa Clara Valley Water District Board Chair Tony Estremera said in a news release Thursday.

The Valley Water Board of Directors declared a water shortage emergency in Santa Clara County on June 9. For the drought to end, the region would need “several more storms,” according to Estremera.

Find out what's happening in Gilroywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We must continue to conserve water whenever possible,” Estremera wrote.


Related: Local Emergency Due To Drought Declared In Santa Clara County

Find out what's happening in Gilroywith free, real-time updates from Patch.


The water district had recommended at a meeting June 9 that the county declare a local emergency and implement mandatory water restrictions to accomplish a 15 percent reduction in water use from 2019 — or 33 percent of 2013 water use — along with proposed restrictions that include caps on using potable water for outdoor landscaping and irrigation and washing cars and structures.

Estremera also advised residents to reduce their watering schedule during the winter months, with plants not needing as much water in cooler weather.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here