Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, issues the following statement on the California Department of Water Resources’ March snowpack survey to measure depth and water content.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that this winter will not likely relieve California from the severe drought conditions challenging our state. That means another year of drawing down our already depleted reservoirs. How long those vital stored supplies last depends on you, me and every water user across Southern California. Like any savings account, the less we use today, the more we’ll have for the coming summer and fall months.
“At Metropolitan, we’re making bold and strategic investments in local water supplies, storage, conservation and resiliency to adapt to droughts and a changing climate. We can’t do it alone. We need state and federal support from partners who recognize investment in Southern California is investment in climate resiliency for the entire state and southwest.
“But the most immediate thing we can do is conserve today. Some may be hoping for a miracle March to save us, but that’s not a gamble I’m willing to take. We all must immediately examine how we use water and use less.”
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provide water for 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.
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