Metropolitan Water District to consider tighter restrictions next month

The board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which feeds many agencies including Pasadena and those in Altadena, is warning of water rationing as summer begins.According to a press release,  the district is going to consider limiting supplies to its customers at the April board meeting, with the valve tightening beginning July 1.

The hoped-for “Miracle March,” with increased winter rainfall, didn’t happen, and further restrictions are needed, according to the water district.

“We needed record precipitation this month to mitigate the worsening effects of ongoing drought,” stated Nina Jazmadarian, General Manager of Foothill Municipal Water District.  “As the month has progressed, there has not been the storm systems coupled with cooler temperatures to provide the relief needed.”

The continuing drought is especially critical for those water suppliers that depend on groundwater sources, the district press release said.  Some agencies are shutting down wells as water levels drop too low to produce water.  Other agencies are in the process of drilling their wells deeper to reach the lower elevations of groundwater.

“The reality is that local groundwater supplies are a chief casualty of the drought,” said John Morris, the City of San Marino’s representative on the 37-member Metropolitan Board.  “That is what makes this drought so unique.  There really isn’t a source of supply that has not been impacted.”

“The only reason why our lawns are still green during the fourth year of a severe drought is because of stored water,” says Jeanette Meyer, Marketing Manager for the City of Burbank’s Department of Water and Power. “Kudos to MWD for building and filling reservoirs over the past 20 years to store emergency water, but those supplies are running low. We’re asking everyone to think about the dwindling water in the tank whenever sprinklers are on, or a faucet or showerhead is running.”

Debby Figoni, Senior Management Analyst with the City of South Pasadena stated:  “Conservation can be implemented through installing high efficiency toilets and clothes washers, taking out your turf and using weather based irrigation controllers.  To help offset the costs, rebates are offered through Metropolitan Water District as well as through some of the local agencies.”  Rebate information can be found at http://www.socalwatersmart.com/.