The State - News from March 11, 1988

East Bay Municipal Utility District officials warned that water rationing is likely unless the vital Sierra snowpack is increased in the next month. “It is rapidly becoming a very dry year, the second one in a row,” said Jerome Gilbert, district general manager. “I don’t want to sound alarmist, but facts are facts.” District figures as of Feb. 23 show seasonal precipitation in the Mokelumne Basin is 55% of normal and the snowpack is 52% of normal. Although the figures are better than last year, average water consumption for the 1.1 million district customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties is up by 5% from last year, a district report said. Last year was the fourth driest year in district history, and about $500,000 was spent on a voluntary conservation campaign using radio ads and bumper stickers. The district said the effort will continue, but voluntary conservation has had nominal success.