>> SUMMER IS HEATING UP, AND WATER OFFICIALS ARE COUNTING ON THIS DAM ALONG THE RUSSIAN RIVER TO HELP KEEP UP WITH DEMAND FOR H2O. >> IT'S ENHANCING OUR ABILITY TO GET WATER TO OUR CUSTOMERS AT THE DRY TIME OF THE YEAR. THIS RUBBER DAM, LOCATED NEAR FORESTVILLE, HAS BEEN RAISED. >> IT'S VITAL TO THE REGION'S WATER SUPPLY, WHICH PROVIDES NATURALLY FILTERED DRINKING WATER TO MORE THAN 600,000 RESIDENTS IN SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTIES. >> OUR DEMAND JUST ABOUT DOUBLES IN THE SUMMERTIME, AND THAT'S MOSTLY, AS YOU COULD GUESS, DUE TO IRRIGATION. IT'S THE DRY TIME OF THE YEAR. PEOPLE TURN THEIR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ON, SO THERE'S A MUCH LARGER DEMAND. >> SO THINK OF THIS DAM HERE ON THE RUSSIAN RIVER AS A GIANT WATER BALLOON, IF YOU WILL. AND THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO PUMP THE WATER OVER THE 65 FOOT LEVEE INTO THE SETTLING PONDS RIGHT HERE. THE PONDS HOLD THE EXTRA WATER SUPPLY AND EVEN HELP RECHARGE GROUNDWATER. >> WITHOUT THIS UH, WE'D BE REALLY HARD PRESSED TO PUMP ENOUGH WATER TO SERVE THE PUBLIC. >> SONOMA WATER RELIES SOLELY ON ITS OWN WATERSHED FOR DRINKING WATER, SO WHAT WE GET HERE IN TERMS OF PRECIPITATION IS ALL WE GET FOR NOW. THE AREA IS IN GOOD SHAPE. LAKE SONOMA AND LAKE MENDOCINO ARE FULL THIS YEAR. >> WE ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY WITH THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WE HAVE. BOTH OUR RESERVOIRS ARE VERY MUCH TOPPED OFF, BUT THIS WATER AGENCY KNOWS SUPPLY MAY CHANGE IN THE FUTURE, SO THEY URGE EVERY CUSTOMER TO BE WATER WISE, ESPECIALLY IN NATURAL RESOURCE USE. IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TAKE. YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE FOR GRANTED. >> MEANTIME, THIS DAM DOING ITS PART TO PROVIDE ENOUGH WATER TO A THIRSTY
