COUNTYWIDE : Board Imposes New Limits on Water Use

New rationing measures for four water districts in the Moorpark, Somis, Bell Canyon and Lake Sherwood areas were adopted Tuesday by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

The cuts, which take effect immediately, call for a reduction of as much as 20% in water use for about 30,000 residents in the districts and as much as 50% for about 400 area farmers.

Residents and farmers must pay up to three times the price for water that exceeds their allotments, depending on how much they go over.

The residential limits are based on the average household use in each district last year. Water reductions for farmers are based on the records for 1990.

Residents in Moorpark must cut water use by 15% from 1990 levels to 399 gallons a day per household. Farmers in Moorpark must cut by 40%.

Somis-area households must cut water use 15% to 498 gallons per day; farmers must cut consumption by 25%.

Households in Bell Canyon must cut water use by 20% to 623 gallons per day. Farmers must reduce use by 50%.

Lake Sherwood residents must cut consumption by 20% to 349 gallons per day. There are no farmers.

Supervisors also adopted a plan to tie future reduction measures to cuts ordered by the Metropolitan Water District, which provides 75% of the water used in the Moorpark area, 40% in the Somis area, and all of the water in the Lake Sherwood and Bell Canyon areas.