Millions of people in Southern California have had mandatory water restrictions lifted following winter storms that bought drought-busting rainfall, boosting reservoirs and easing severe shortages.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which supplies water for 19 million people in six counties, announced on March 15 that it will no longer mandate emergency restrictions on water use for nearly 7 million people following the storms.
However, it cautioned Southern Californians to continue using water efficiently to prepare for the uncertainty of Colorado River water supplies, noting that doing so will ensure more storage for a future dry year.
“While the board’s action reflects improvements in the availability of State Water Project supplies, storage reserves have been drawn down and significant challenges remain to the region’s other source of imported water – the Colorado River,” the statement said….