Water-Use Cutbacks

The County Water Authority’s decision to order a 20% regional water-use reduction was not an attempt to “take the easy way out,” despite the Times’ assertion to the contrary (April 14 editorial). Rather, it was a prudent action that strikes a balance between the need to conserve and the Authority’s desire to avoid economic and environmental hardship caused by large-scale, water-use cutbacks.

Nor does the conservation plan conflict with the cutback target set by the Metropolitan Water District. MWD is requiring agencies to reduce their purchase of Metropolitan water--not their overall water use--by an average of 31%. And the Authority will make such a reduction.

But the Authority was able to lessen the size of the cutback because of supplies from the state water bank and local reservoirs. The Authority will get an extra allocation from the water bank because San Diego County is considered to have a “critical need” for water. These deliveries, combined with use of Colorado River water that was stored by the Authority in January and February, bring the county to within 80% of normal demand while keeping a prudent amount of water in storage for emergency use or in case the drought extends into a sixth year.

Meanwhile, the Authority and its member agencies will continue to vigorously foster conservation. This effort includes public education and programs that promote installation of water-efficient plumbing technology, improved industrial and agricultural water-use procedures, efficient irrigation practices and utilization of drought-tolerant plants.

Reducing the county’s water use by 20% will not be easy. The cutback target is twice as much as the reduction that was achieved last summer, and will require a strong effort by the public. I am confident county residents are up to the challenge, and that their attention and willingness to conserve will not vanish with the water emergency.

LESTER A. SNOW, San Diego County Water Authority