Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, issues the following statement regarding today's announcements to address worsening drought conditions in California:

"The preliminary reduction of State Water Project deliveries to zero percent for Metropolitan and other parts of the state is unprecedented and reflects that California has little snowpack and little new water supply so far this year. This reinforces why Metropolitan staff is proposing to the Board of Directors a formal Water Supply Alert declaration for all of Southern California and a call for all residents to voluntarily reduce their water use by 20 percent.

"Metropolitan continues with a plan to draw on water reserves to meet demand this year. Reducing demands, however, is something that each and every Southern Californian can and should do at this time. The city of Los Angeles' ongoing mandatory watering restrictions provide an example of additional steps that can be taken at a local level. Metropolitan plans to work closely with the Brown and Obama administrations as well as with our member agencies to manage our available water resources in the most prudent manner possible."

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving nearly 19 million people in six counties.The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Bob Muir, 213-217-6930
213-324-5213 mobile