Water Shortage: Calls For Voluntary Reductions Begin

PALOS VERDES, CA — It's now time for residents to voluntarily reduce water usage amid a growing water shortage in California, West Basin Municipal Water District officials said this week.

The district's board Tuesday moved to activate its Water Shortage Contingency Plan and declare water shortage level one for the service area representing nearly one million people in 17 cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County.

As the drought increases in severity, level one is to encourage voluntary reductions in water use. Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested a voluntary 15% reduction in statewide water use.

Now, West Basin can create more efficient conservation measures and develop a drought communications plan. The district can also coordinate with other local water agencies and implement new water efficiency programs.

"The Board action today will increase awareness of the importance of water use efficiency and conservation as a way of life," Board President Harold C. Williams, MSCE, P.E. said in a statement. "Even though our current Urban Water Management Plan shows that West Basin water resources are reliable for the next 25 years, even in multi-year droughts, there is a sustained need to use water wisely considering our naturally arid and changing climate conditions. Water-saving actions today will help to alleviate demand and stress on our current water supply reserves."

West Basin has six standard water shortage levels, corresponding to increasingly severe shortage conditions as compared to normal reliability conditions. Each level aligns with specific response actions that West Basin can implement to address and resolve any current or expected supply-demand gaps created by the associated water shortage.

As of now, West Basin has not implemented mandatory water use reductions or rationing.

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