CAMARILLO : District Mandates Cuts in Water Use

Despite the recent rains that brought the county its wettest March on record, the Camrosa Water District has mandated 30% cutbacks in water use for residents and 70% cuts for farmers beginning April 1.

The district, which serves about 26,000 residents and 220 farmers in eastern Camarillo and the Santa Rosa Valley, announced the cuts Tuesday to meet reductions in supplies from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. MWD supplies 90% of Camrosa’s water.

However, Camrosa may never have to implement the cuts if the MWD decides to relax restrictions as expected at its April 9 meeting, said district General Manager Gina Manchester.

“If MWD backs off, it will make all of us a lot happier,” Manchester said.

“But until they do that, we have to fall in line.”

Manchester said Camrosa will not prepare any water bills until after the April 9 meeting.

If implemented, the 30% cuts would mean most households must limit their use to 324 gallons per day, or pay penalties of about $5 per month.

In addition, the district raised the base price of water about $5 a month for most customers.

For farmers, the cuts and penalties are far more severe.

Prices would increase from $260 per acre-foot to $479 per acre-foot.

Any water use above the allocation will cost farmers $1,028 per acre-foot.