The Region - News from July 3, 1987

Despite a meager rainy season this year, Los Angeles residents need not fear a water shortage quite yet, authorities said. Only 7.66 inches of rain fell in the city in the season that ended Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The total marks the 10th driest rainy season on record. “We’re fine as long as we continue wise water use,” said Bob Gomperz, spokesman for the Metropolitan Water District, which supplies 5% to 10% of Los Angeles’ water. “It’s next summer we have to worry about.” LeVal Lund, an engineer at the Los Angeles Aqueduct, said the city is in “pretty good shape,” but low runoff from mountain snowpacks means that residents are using stored water that could be needed later in the event of a dry season. Gomperz said the district’s reservoirs are 90% full or better.