https://thedownspout.com/Plain answers about water in Sonoma County, with sources and check dates.en-usSun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://thedownspout.com/russian-river-minimum-flow-petition/https://thedownspout.com/russian-river-minimum-flow-petition/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTSonoma Water has asked the State Water Board to lower the Russian River's minimum flows in Normal years starting May 1, 2027. This is a proposal, and the documents we read show no decision yet.https://thedownspout.com/russian-river-system/https://thedownspout.com/russian-river-system/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTwo dams store winter rain and release it in summer. Sonoma Water draws the water from wells beside the river for over 600,000 people. The state sets how much must stay in the river.https://thedownspout.com/sink-it-or-shed-it/https://thedownspout.com/sink-it-or-shed-it/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMost properties need both. Sink clean water where the soil can take it and nothing will be harmed. Shed water, slowly and safely, where soaking it in would threaten a foundation, a slope, a septic system or a neighbor. The craft is deciding which water goes where.https://thedownspout.com/swales/https://thedownspout.com/swales/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA swale is a shallow ditch that slows rainwater. Dug level across a slope, it holds water so it soaks in. Built with a gentle fall, it carries water away slowly. Both work only in the right place, and both need a planned overflow. Start by watching your slope in the next storm.https://thedownspout.com/lawn-alternatives-and-low-water-lawns/https://thedownspout.com/lawn-alternatives-and-low-water-lawns/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTKeep grass where you use it, water it deeply and less often, and keep chemicals out of the creek. A green 1,000 square foot lawn takes about 11,000 gallons over a Sonoma County summer. Where nobody walks, native plants, clover or a meadow do the job with less water.https://thedownspout.com/el-nino-2026-sonoma-county-water/https://thedownspout.com/el-nino-2026-sonoma-county-water/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTNOAA says a strong to very strong El Niño is likely this winter, which tilts California toward a wet one. On the Russian River, strong El Niño winters brought a major flood at Guerneville in 3 of 9 cases since 1951, about twice the usual rate, but the worst floods came in other winters. Get ready for high water and plan to keep some of the rain.https://thedownspout.com/rain-barrels-legal-california/https://thedownspout.com/rain-barrels-legal-california/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTYes. State law says you do not need a water right permit to use rainwater collected from a rooftop. Local building rules can still apply.https://thedownspout.com/laundry-to-landscape/https://thedownspout.com/laundry-to-landscape/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTYou can send washing machine water to your plants. The state says no permit. Permit Sonoma says a plumbing permit. Call (707) 565-1900 before you dig.https://thedownspout.com/test-your-well-water/https://thedownspout.com/test-your-well-water/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTest for bacteria twice a year and after any flood. Test nitrates every five years. Use a state certified lab.https://thedownspout.com/where-your-tap-water-comes-from/https://thedownspout.com/where-your-tap-water-comes-from/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMost tap water served by Sonoma Water starts in the Russian River system. It is pulled from the ground beside the river, treated lightly, and piped to your city or district.https://thedownspout.com/rebates-and-programs/https://thedownspout.com/rebates-and-programs/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTen water utilities in Sonoma and Marin work together as the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership. Programs and amounts change, so check yours before you buy.https://thedownspout.com/santa-rosa-rainfall/https://thedownspout.com/santa-rosa-rainfall/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTSanta Rosa averages 31.5 inches a year. Petaluma gets 25.6. Healdsburg gets 42.8. Most of it falls from November to March.https://thedownspout.com/only-rain-down-the-storm-drain/https://thedownspout.com/only-rain-down-the-storm-drain/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTStorm drains carry water straight to the nearest creek. It is not treated. Only rain should go down them.https://thedownspout.com/groundwater-agencies-sonoma-county/https://thedownspout.com/groundwater-agencies-sonoma-county/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTThree basins have approved groundwater sustainability plans: Sonoma Valley, Petaluma Valley and Santa Rosa Plain. Each has its own local agency.https://thedownspout.com/who-makes-the-water-rules/https://thedownspout.com/who-makes-the-water-rules/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTState boards set drinking water and pollution rules. The county handles wells, septic and graywater permits. Your own utility handles your tap and your bill.https://thedownspout.com/grow-vegetables-with-less-water/https://thedownspout.com/grow-vegetables-with-less-water/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMulch 3 to 4 inches deep, water with drip on a timer, and grow only what your household will eat.https://thedownspout.com/slow-spread-sink-rain-on-your-land/https://thedownspout.com/slow-spread-sink-rain-on-your-land/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTSlow the rain down, spread it out, and let it soak in. The Sonoma Resource Conservation District says this protects your property and refills groundwater.https://thedownspout.com/recharge-groundwater-at-home/https://thedownspout.com/recharge-groundwater-at-home/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTYes, a little. Rain that soaks in stays in the ground. Paving and fast drainage send it away instead.https://thedownspout.com/drainage-and-grading-permits-sonoma-county/https://thedownspout.com/drainage-and-grading-permits-sonoma-county/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTIn unincorporated Sonoma County, a drainage permit is required before any drainage improvement. Grading over 50 cubic yards needs a grading permit.https://thedownspout.com/drought-tolerant-plants-sonoma-county/https://thedownspout.com/drought-tolerant-plants-sonoma-county/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTChoose plants that fit our wet winters and dry summers. Mostly native plants need little water once they settle in.https://thedownspout.com/is-sonoma-county-tap-water-okay-to-drink/https://thedownspout.com/is-sonoma-county-tap-water-okay-to-drink/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTCity water is disinfected with chlorine, and Sonoma Water and Santa Rosa say they add no fluoride. Wells, tanks, creeks and rain have no one testing them for you. Look up your supplier, then find your source below.https://thedownspout.com/water-filters-for-sonoma-county-homes/https://thedownspout.com/water-filters-for-sonoma-county-homes/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTFor city water, a certified carbon filter takes out chlorine. A pitcher is the cheapest start and an under-sink unit is the better long-term choice. For a well, test first, then match the filter. For germs from a well, tank, creek or rain, add a sediment filter and UV.https://thedownspout.com/rural-water-systems-wells-tanks-pumps/https://thedownspout.com/rural-water-systems-wells-tanks-pumps/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA rural water system gets water legally, stores it, moves it and pressurizes it. In Sonoma County the state sets water rights and Permit Sonoma controls wells. Most homes use a well pump with a pressure tank, or a pump that fills a high tank so gravity does the rest.https://thedownspout.com/how-big-a-water-storage-tank-do-you-need/https://thedownspout.com/how-big-a-water-storage-tank-do-you-need/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMultiply what you use in a day by the days you want to cover, then add any fire reserve. A family of four at the US average of 82 gallons each needs about 2,300 gallons for a week. Try your own numbers in the calculator.