The Kern County Water Agency says it has enough basins to capture all the water that’s coming from the Pineapple Express.Water Resources Manager Holly Melton says we’re still recovering from five years of drought and the extra water may not fully recharge the groundwater. Meanwhile, water companies across Kern County have been banking as much rain as possible from the storms that swept the region this month. Melton says their basins west of Bakersfield are much fuller, but she doesn’t think the two inches or more we’ve received will completely recharge the aquifers. Collecting surface water helps get us through dry years in tandem with conservation efforts. Melton says we still need to make up for five years of drought before last year’s monster storms, so they continue to ask people to conserve as much water as possible.

Kelli Pierce