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News provided by U.S.G.V.M.W.D
Residents of the San Gabriel Valley are being asked to conserve 20 percent of their household water use and limit outdoor watering to two days a week under an unprecedented action taken today by the Board of Directors for the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District).
The Emergency Water Conservation Program, unanimously adopted today by Upper District’s Board of Directors, applies to the 18 cities and 22 water retailers in the San Gabriel Valley. This action follows Metropolitan Water District’s declaration of a Water Shortage Emergency for the State Water Project (SWP) dependent areas which requires SWP dependent areas to immediately cut water use by June 1, 2022.
Under the Emergency Water Conservation Program, the General Manager will continue to work with Metropolitan to implement the volumetric option for Upper District’s service area. Additionally, the Program will reinforce the actions under Upper District’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan – Level 2 and require robust conservation efforts for the region. The resolution calls for a 20 percent water use reduction and limits outdoor irrigation to two days per week for all Upper District’s retail water agencies.
“The Board recognizes the severity of the drought and the effects of climate change to our local water supply. Imposing these restrictions is unprecedented, but we, but we must mitigate for the unprecedented reductions from the State Water Project,” stated Upper District Board President Ed Chavez. “We are committed to working with our water retailers and cities to ensure our residents have the resources needed to conserve water in their homes.”
Imported water supplies from the SWP help replenish the Main San Gabriel Groundwater Basin which accounts for 20 percent of the region’s local water resources. Imported water is delivered from the State Water Project, which the Department of Water Resources announced an allocation cut from 15 percent to 5 percent on March 18, 2022.
Additionally, under the Emergency Water Conservation Program, Upper District will expand its public outreach and education activities in the region to increase water conservation awareness and preserve the water storage levels of the groundwater basin. Upper District will implement a district-wide drought communications plan to support water use reductions and urges all local water suppliers and city councils to help their customers and constituents meet the 20 percent reduction.
Upper District’s mission is to provide a reliable, sustainable, diversified, and affordable portfolio of high-quality water supplies to the San Gabriel Valley; including water conservation, recycled water, storm water capture, storage, water transfers and imported water. Upper District services nearly 900,000 residents in its 144 square mile service territory.
Upper District serves all or parts of the following cities: Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, City of Industry, Covina, El Monte, Glendora, Duarte, Irwindale, La Puente, Monrovia, Rosemead, San Gabriel, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Temple City, and West Covina. Governed by a five-member elected board of directors, Upper District is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Annually, more than 78 billion gallons of water is used in Upper District’s service area.
For more information about Upper District, please visit our website or call 626-443-2297.
