SIMI VALLEY : City Delays Decision on Water Limits

The Simi Valley City Council has decided to wait for the Metropolitan Water District’s assessment of a statewide drought before it decides whether to impose mandatory water rationing.

The council Monday delayed action until after the district’s board of directors’ meeting April 17. The district, a major supplier of water to Simi Valley and other Ventura County cities, has pushed for adoption of mandatory water-saving measures before summer to head off increased water shortages.

Council members said they would prefer to continue the city’s voluntary water-saving program because it is cheaper and easier to conduct.

Councilwoman Vicky Howard, however, said that if necessary, the city could implement a series of water conservation recommendations drafted when the city faced a drought in the late 1970s. City officials said if approved, the water rationing ordinance could be in place within 45 days.

MWD’s largest Ventura County customer is the Calleguas Municipal Water District, which serves the cities of Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks.

Although the water districts cannot force their customers to adopt water rationing ordinances, the agencies could substantially increase their water rates or limit the flow of water to cities that do not cooperate in conservation efforts, said Michael Kleinbrodt, Simi Valley’s deputy director of public works.

The city of Ventura adopted an ordinance last month that limits water use by residential and commercial customers. The ordinance, which goes into effect Friday, also places a moratorium on hookups for new construction.