Customers are being asked to limit outdoor water use such as watering lawns, filling swimming pools and washing cars. Shortening showers by at least five minutes also helps. But fear not: La Crescentans in the unincorporated part of Los Angeles County will not be asked for extreme water conservation as of yet.
"Unless the Metropolitan Water District and other agencies limit our water sources, I can not see the signs changing to red [critical status]," commented Ron Mitchell of CVWD.
Unless the summer temperatures continue to rise, the Foothill water conservation situation is predicted to remain stable.
The city of Glendale, however, has put into effect the first phase of a water conservation plan for its 32,500 customers.
The first phase is looking for voluntary compliance to save 10 percent of water usage, or about 20 gallons per person per day. The city has a seven stage plan which becomes mandatory, and in its final stages could end up with rationing and a 50 percent reduction.
The city also draws water from the Verdugo Basin, where it exercises pumping rights along with La Crescenta, and also from the San Fernando Valley. Most of the water comes from the Metropolitan Water District, which is more expensive and becoming more scarce.
Glendale's draw on MWD has been decreasing, but is projected to start going up again.
Despite the number of apartment houses in the city, the biggest users of water remain single family residences, with that figure continuing to increase.
The city's water conservation tips are nothing new; repair leaky faucets, cover swimming pools, take showers instead of baths, use low flow toilets and shower heads, and don't wash driveways and walkways. More tips are available on the website at www.glendalewaterandpower.com.
Charles Copper contributed to this story.
