CARSON, CA, March 3, 2014 -- On Monday, Feb. 24, the West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) Board of Directors adopted a resolution declaring a Drought Alert that calls for its seventeen cities, unincorporated county areas and retail customer agencies to implement conservation measures meeting California Governor Brown's goal of a 20-percent water use reduction, conveyed in his Emergency Drought Declaration on Friday, Jan. 17.
The West Basin Board has directed staff to work with the District's eight retail customer agencies to identify immediate water use efficiency measures and to assess new connections to West Basin's recycled water system, if feasible.
The West Basin Board declared the Drought Alert based on a variety of factors: there is currently no State Water Project water from Northern California allocated to Southern California; the State of California is in its third year of drought; the Colorado River is in its 14th year of drought; the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) issued a Water Supply Alert on Tuesday, Feb. 11; and conservation is needed to help extend and protect the water now in storage, which is being used to meet the water needs in Southern California.
"Metropolitan has done a great job in investing in storage and other water supply projects for the past 20 years. Likewise, West Basin has invested in drought-proof supplies like water recycling and conservation," said West Basin Board President, Edward C. Little. "Together, these investments in reliable water supplies are paying off with no water restrictions during this current drought. However, both West Basin and Metropolitan are strongly encouraging residents, businesses and institutions to meet the Governor's call for a 20-percent reduction in water use."
Although West Basin is not currently imposing any water restrictions, the agency is strongly encouraging its customers to utilize the many free water-efficiency programs it offers. Likewise, West Basin provides free rain barrels, high-efficiency toilets and weather-based irrigation controllers to help reduce water use, along with free landscape audits and California Friendly Landscaping classes.
See also:
"CA declares drought state of emergency, water agencies stable, research shows"
"New California Water Action Plan outlines state's future water goals"
"CA voters consider improving local water supplies as top solution to drought"
About West Basin Municipal Water District
West Basin Municipal Water District is a wholesale water district that serves nearly a million people in 17 cities and unincorporated areas throughout its 185-square mile service area. West Basin is reducing its dependence on imported water through its Water Reliability 2020 program that will double conservation, double recycled water production and add desalted ocean water to its portfolio by the year 2020. For more information, visit www.westbasin.org
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