Water conservation now mandatory, agency says

The Municipal Water District of Orange County declared mandatory water conservation in the face of a regional shortage Wednesday, and voted to implement its Water Supply Allocation Plan in the face of a 10% reduction in available imported water.

District Board President Wayne Clark urged residents to begin eliminating sources of water waste and increase water efficiency.

The water-supply reduction was called for by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board of Directors on Tuesday.

The latter agency has used stored water to meet demand for the past three years, due to below-average rainfall and the restriction of water from the California Delta. The regulatory drought has the potential to cut the water supply of up to 25 million state residents by 30% to 50%. The plan will be enacted from July 1 through June 30.

— Candice Baker