Regional drought emergency declared for Southern California

SAN FRANCISCO: Preparing for a fourth consecutive dry year amid extreme drought conditions, the largest supplier of treated water in the US has declared a regional drought emergency for all of Southern California.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California called upon water agencies in the region to immediately reduce their use of all imported supplies, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties, including Los Angeles, the nation's most populous county.

"Over the last three years, communities across the West have experienced the devastating effects of an unprecedented drought. We must be prepared for these conditions to continue in 2023," the supplier saud.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California warned that the water-saving call could become mandatory if drought conditions persist in the coming months.

By April, the agency will consider allocating supplies to all its member agencies, requiring them to cut their use of imported water or face steep additional fees on water purchased from the agency. It called on the entire region to further cutback water use as all imported water supplies are stressed by drought and climate change.

The agency on average imports about half of the water used in Southern California from the Colorado River and from the northern Sierra, via the State Water Project (SWP). (IANS)

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