Metropolitan Water District poised to put the squeeze on County agencies
By Debra Tash
The County’s primary water purveyor is set to implement Governor Brown’s recent executive order B-29-15 for a 25% reduction in water usage. Staff for the Metropolitan Water District, which supplies such local wholesalers as Calleguas MWD, is recommending to their Board they declare a Level 3 Regional Shortage. It would be in effect from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 and would mean a 22.5% reduction from the 2013 & 2014 average water usage.
The reduction will have less impact on the retail, consumer, level, and be somewhere in the mid-teens as far as the percentage that they will have to reduce their usage. The public has a long way to go to meet that goal. The South Coast Region, which extends from Ventura to San Diego, actually saw a 2 percent increase last year over 2013. And the entire state only dropped its consumption by 2.8 percent.
The Governor’s order mandates:
- Remove and replace turf with drought tolerant landscape options
- Support rebate programs for water efficient devices
- Restrict water use on commercial, industrial, and institutional properties in order to achieve 25 percent reductions in potable water use
- Prohibit irrigation of ornamental turf on street medians with potable water supplies
- Prohibit irrigation of new construction with potable water unless drip or microspray systems are used
- Direct water suppliers to develop rate structures and pricing mechanisms to maximize water conservation consistent with statewide water restrictions
Metropolitan staff considered the following in recommending a move to a Level 3 water storage emergency:
Set WSAP (Water Supply Allocation Plan) Level in 2015/16 while:
- Supporting the Governor’s April 1, 2015 Executive Order
- Avoiding use of Emergency storage
- Managing storage for the following years
- Allowing for supply uncertainties
- Avoiding steep increases in WSAP levels in future years, if dry conditions persist
You can read Metropolitan staff recommendations and options: 8-3_Board_Letter_and_Attachments-1
It looks like we have a long, dry summer ahead of us.
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Debra Tash is Editor-in-Chief of Citizensjournal.us, past president for Citizens Alliance for Property Rights, business executive and award-winning author, residing in Somis.
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One of the issues not being raisied is if there is a 25% usage reduction, then revenue will drop by at least 25%. Fixed costs, including debt service will remain the same. Expect water rates to increase. I have stated several times, the biggest potential customer of GREAT Water is MWD and its agencies.