Prop. 128’s Effect on Water Supply

Much has been written about the Hayden Initiative, Proposition 128, in recent weeks. However, very little has been said about its effect on Southern California’s water.

I am particularly concerned about the very real possibility of a substantial reduction in the water available to Southern California from Northern California. Your readers should know that in much of Southern California, 100% of all domestic water is imported either from Northern California via the State Water Project or from the Colorado River.

Proposition 128 mandates “full protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and their habitat.” This would undoubtedly mean diversion of water to San Francisco Bay from the State Water Project, thereby reducing water available for distribution to consumers. Real people will be shortchanged. People need water.

After four years of drought, water is already in short supply in Southern California despite aggressive voluntary conservation. Mandatory cutbacks will be required if our drought continues into its fifth year. Public water suppliers are developing alternates to imported water; however, many of these are unreasonably costly or are limited in quantity.

One successful alternative currently used to reduce our need for imported water is to reclaim water for non-domestic purposes. This is both economical and available. Proposition 128’s stringent restrictions on the use of chlorine will tend to eliminate the use of reclaimed water as an economic alternative. This would further compound our shortage.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Coastal Municipal Water District, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (the major wholesale suppliers), most of the retail water agencies in Orange County, the Assn. of California Water Agencies, and the Water Advisory Committee of Orange County have all adopted resolutions opposing Proposition 128 for these reasons.

Other parts of the proposition may be desirable, but its negative effect on Southern California water would be pervasive. Your readers should know the facts before they decide.

HUNTER T. COOK

General Manager

Coastal Municipal Water District