Given the severity of the drought, the MWD delegates from the Water Authority supported a steeper cut, and voted yes on a substitute motion to adopt a Level 4 -- 20 percent -- allocation because key assumptions made by MWD on its available water supplies this year were overly optimistic. They also said the Level 4 allocation would be more protective of MWD's stored supplies and would help MWD avoid potentially steeper allocations next year, should drought conditions persist. That substitute motion failed, and the Water Authority delegates voted no on the Level 3, 15 percent allocation.  

The Water Authority's Board of Directors will consider establishing fiscal year 2016 water delivery reductions for its 24 member agencies at a special meeting on May 14, along with other regional drought response actions. The Board initially was scheduled to take action on April 23. That decision was rescheduled after the State Water Resources Control Board announced it would adopt water reduction mandates on May 6 to implement Gov. Jerry Brown's April 1 executive order mandating a 25 percent statewide reduction in water use.  

The Water Authority has submitted formal comments to the state board about its proposed framework for water-use reductions because the initial draft would undermine investments in water supply reliability projects and harm the state and local economies. (Click here to view the letter.)

Following the state board's May 6 action and the Water Authority's May 14 action, the Water Authority's member agencies will develop plans for meeting each community's water-use reduction targets.

Padre Dam is offering free tours of the Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility. Click here to sign up.   

Padre Dam - Advanced Water Purification