Medford Water works diligently to ensure that safe drinking water is available for the approximately 150,000 residents of the Rogue Valley that we serve, in Medford, Central Point, Eagle Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent, Ashland, the unincorporated community of White City, and the Elk City Water District. Our ability to supply water from two different sources helps to maintain reliability and redundancy: our primary source is Big Butte Springs, and the Rogue River is our secondary source used during peak demand months. Fortunately, it takes several years of compounded low precipitation and snow levels to impact these sources.
Find information about how we’re managing current water supply and demand, FAQs, area water supply conditions, what you can do to help, and additional resources on the tabs below.
- Medford Water Supply Updates & FAQs
- Regional Water Conditions
- How you can help
- County Drought Status and Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
Medford Water’s Supply Management Updates
The table below will be updated throughout the summer season with information about how Medford Water is utilizing its water sources to reliably serve our customers clean drinking water in the most efficient and responsible way possible. During the peak water demand months, demand is met through a combination of both sources.
| Date | Water Production | Water Demand | Customer Actions |
| April 1, 2026 | • 25 MGD from Big Butte Springs (BBS) using both pipelines; on April 20, we will transition from two full pipes to pipe-and-a-half, reducing this amount to approximately 19 MGD being brought from BBS • The Robert A. Duff Water Treatment Plant will start up this month to treat/produce water from the Rogue River; timing depends on how weather drives demand | • Current demand is 21 MGD; this is within the normal demand in April, which ranges from 17–25 MGD • Demand is being met with Big Butte Springs only | We urge all water users to be mindful of their usage as we go into the summer season; there is sufficient supply to meet the needs of the communities we serve. |
| Definitions BBS: Big Butte Springs, which is brought to Medford approximately 30 miles from the slopes of Mt. McLoughlin. CFS: Cubic feet per second; a rate of water flow measurement representing one cubic foot of volume passing a given point in one second. MGD: Million Gallons per Day; a measure of water flow rates representing one million US gallons over a 24-hour period. MGD to CFS conversion: One MGD is equivalent to 1.5472 CFS. | |||
Snowpack
The National Resource Conservation Service monitors snowpack in stream basins. Currently, every basin across the state is measuring well below the historical median (min = 0%, max = 30%). As of the beginning of April 2026, statewide Snow Water Equivalent is measuring 13% of the historical median. Fortunately, it takes several years of compounded low snow levels to impact our water sources.
Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Precipitation
Precipitation in March was below normal for most of the state, with the largest deficits in the southern and central parts of the state. Fortunately, it takes several years of compounded low precipitation to impact our water sources.
Source: Medford Water
Irrigation Reservoir Levels
Reservoir storage in most basins across the state are near to above normal for this time of year; below are reservoir levels in our region. The diagrams represent the level of fill in the reservoirs as both percent full and as a ratio of volume of water currently in the reservoir to the volume of water in the reservoir when it is full.
Source: US Bureau of Reclamation
Be Good Stewards of Our Water Supply
During a drought in Jackson County, customers play an important role in helping protect their community’s water supply. Small everyday actions, especially outdoors, can make a big difference. One of the most effective ways to use water efficiently outdoors is watering in the early morning or late evenings to prevent water waste due to evaporation, adjusting irrigation schedules to avoid overwatering, and making sure sprinkler systems aren’t watering pavements or running during rain events.
Read on for more tips or visit some of our Water Efficiency pages linked at the bottom of this page.
Love Your Water, Use it Wisely
It is important to remember the delicate balance between human activities and our region’s natural environment. Did you know that you can help play a role in helping to safeguard our water resources for essential drinking and public health purposes?
In our area, water usage triples during the summer months largely due to the increase in lawn and landscape watering. Love the water we have by making conservation a part of your daily life to help us to preserve these water supplies. Start with the following tips:
• Stop leaks. Check all water-using appliances, equipment, and other devices for leaks. Running toilets, steady faucet drips, and outdoor sprinkler systems are common sources of leaks.
• Provide only the water plants need. Adjust your irrigation controller routinely to make sure you are not overwatering. Go to medfordwater.org/infoline during the summer months to learn exactly how much water you need to apply each week based on current local weather trends. Better yet, install a WaterSense labeled smart irrigation controller; we even offer a rebate!
• Plant the right plants. Use low-water and drought resistant grass, plants, shrubs, and trees plants that are appropriate for our climate. Our water-wise gardening website (medfordsaveswater.org) highlights water-wise gardening concepts tailored to the climate of the Rogue Valley and includes hundreds of diverse photos providing a wide variety of attractive examples.
• Schedule a Free Sprinkler Survey. Medford Water offers free comprehensive sprinkler system evaluations to help you use water efficiently in your landscape. Call 541-774-2435 to schedule a survey.
• Replace old toilets. The major water user inside the home is toilet flushing. If your home was built before 1992 and you haven’t replaced your toilets recently, you could benefit from installing a WaterSense labeled model that uses 1.28 gallons or less per flush. We have a Toilet Rebate as well!
• Install WaterSense labeled faucet aerators and showerheads. WaterSense labeled products use at least 20% less water than standard models, while providing equal or superior performance.
• Take advantage of your online Watersmart account portal to track your water usage, check for leaks, and set high usage/leak alerts by logging in at services.medfordwater.org. If you need help, view our Step By Step Guide to Watersmart Features or call us at 541-774-2430.
Find out more about stopping leaks, our rebate programs, and how you can conserve water this summer at medfordwater.org/waterefficiency or by calling 541-774-2436.
Measure Your Household Water Usage
Take advantage of your online Watersmart account portal to track your water usage, check for leaks, and set high usage/leak alerts by logging in at services.medfordwater.org. If you need help, view our Step By Step Guide to Watersmart Features or call us at 541-774-2430.
County Drought Status
The Jackson County Board of Commissioners requested an emergency drought declaration on April 1, 2026. This is the first step in the drought declaration process, which typically goes through a three-part process before securing a state drought declaration from the Governor:
- First, a county commission submits a request for a state drought declaration to the Office of Emergency Management.
- Second, the Water Availability Committee, chaired by the Water Resources Department, meets to evaluate information on weather and water supply conditions and subsequently make recommendations to Oregon’s Drought Council. The Drought Council assesses the impact of drought conditions and makes recommendations to the Governor’s Office on whether to declare drought in an area.
- The Governor may then choose to issue an Executive Order declaring a drought emergency. State drought declarations are typically issued at a county scale. The primary benefits of a state drought declaration from the Governor are that it creates greater awareness of drought conditions, facilitates coordination between state agencies, and allows the Water Resources Department to provide existing water right holders with access to emergency water management tools.
The Governor or the Oregon Water Resources Commission can also direct state agencies and political subdivisions to implement a water conservation plan or water curtailment plan. Factors for declaring drought include precipitation, temperature, streamflow, reservoir levels, and soil moisture. A Drought Declaration provides greater awareness of drought conditions, access to emergency tools for water rights holders, short-term emergency authorizations (rather than permanent), and priority for drinking water and stock watering.
According to the US Drought Monitor, approximately 49% of Oregon is experiencing moderate drought (D1) to severe drought (D2).
Source: US Drought Monitor
Additional Resources
Customers looking for more information about drought conditions and water use can visit several resources. For statewide drought declarations, current conditions, and water data, visit the Oregon Water Resources Department website at oregon.gov. Information about agricultural water availability can also be found through local irrigation districts serving Jackson County.
For more information on the local and regional water supply outlook, you can also explore some of these resources:
Medford Water’s Supply Management Frequently Asked Questions
Water Supply Outlook FAQs will be available here soon.
Questions?
Call 541-774-2430 for more information.