Metropolitan Board to Consider Stronger Drought Response Action

WHAT:

Metropolitan Water District will host a media availability after its board of directors considers declaring a Water Supply Alert to elevate Southern California’s water-saving response with the state’s water supplies increasingly stressed by extreme drought.

WHEN:

Tuesday, Aug. 17, immediately following noon meeting of Metropolitan’s board (approximately 2 p.m.)

WHERE:

Metropolitan Water District headquarters’ outdoor courtyard, 700 N. Alameda St., adjacent to historic Union Station, downtown Los Angeles and streamed on Facebook (Board meeting will be held online, and streamed to the public)

PARTICIPANTS:

Metropolitan board Chairwoman Gloria D. Gray; General Manager Adel Hagekhalil; and Chief Operating Officer Deven Upadhyay

VISUALS:

Displays of available water supplies and demands, storage levels and outreach materials to promote water use efficiency. B-roll footage of reservoirs also is accessible here.

BACKGROUND:

Southern California’s water supplies are being severely impacted by extreme drought in both the Northern Sierra and the Colorado River, stressing both of the region’s imported water sources. Crucial storage reservoirs have never been lower. As conditions worsen and the outlook for next year looks bleak, Metropolitan’s board will consider declaring a Water Supply Alert for the region to safeguard storage reserves.

A Water Supply Alert is the third of four conditions in Metropolitan’s framework indicating the urgency of the region’s need to save water. The action calls for water agencies and consumers in Southern California to voluntarily reduce their water demand to mitigate the need for more severe actions, such as restricting supplies to Metropolitan’s 26 member public agencies through financial penalties for excessive use.

The Metropolitan board’s proposed action comes a day after the Bureau of Reclamation is expected to declare the first-ever shortage on the Colorado River, which will trigger cutbacks for Arizona and Nevada next year. It also supports Gov. Newsom’s call for Californians to voluntarily reduce water use.