Residents Grapple With the Drought

What I find most disturbing in your article on California’s drought (front page, April 1) is that the officials at MWD seem to be surprised that we are running short of water.

For years now MWD has been openly supportive of the extraordinary growth in Southern California as though there was an unlimited supply of water. Never once have they suggested that we should limit our growth to ensure that we have an adequate supply of water to meet future demand. Even now when they are on the verge of rationing water, MWD officials are still not suggesting that we attempt to plan California’s growth.

At our present growth rate, this year’s 12% water shortage is equivalent to the amount of water that three years of Southern California’s growth uses. After the 1977 drought if our water officials had recommended that we start planning our growth instead of just accommodating it, we would not be facing the severe water shortage we are today.

BOB ROWLAND

Hemet