Plea to Public for Voluntary Cuts in Water Use Succeeds

Heeding drought warnings, Southern California water users are approaching the goal of cutting back consumption by 10%, officials of the Metropolitan Water District reported Saturday.

For the first week in July, in fact, the voluntary conservation goal was actually met, said MWD spokesman Bob Gomperz. Last week, usage edged upward again. But 6 billion gallons of water has been saved so far this month from the 63.8 billion gallons that were expected to be used.

“At this point there is every indication that (the program) is successful, but it is too soon to call it a total success,� said Gomperz. The conservation figures are not strictly based on past usage, which the agency feels is misleading, but on a computer model that takes into account weather patterns to determine the expected rate of consumption under non-drought conditions.

The conservation program was initiated May 10, in response to the second season of dry weather in the West. California is experiencing “extreme to severe� drought conditions and needs up to 6 inches of rain in the north to relieve the problem, according to WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts to The Times.

Some Mandatory Cuts

While some Northern California communities are facing mandatory water restrictions, Southern California’s ability to import water from the Colorado River and from the state’s system of canals and reservoirs has allowed local water users the luxury of dealing only with recommended cutbacks.

But customers apparently are heeding the recommendations. Gomperz said that in June, expected water usage was down 8%. That figure has been bettered in July, traditionally a heavy water use month, even though the agency has not yet concluded its $1-million campaign to get the water conservation message out to the six Southern California counties it serves.

Next week, local television stations will begin airing MWD-financed advertisements to inform consumers how to use less water on their lawns--a major water waster--and to cut down on water used to wash cars.

The MWD is a wholesale distributor of imported water to 27 local agencies in Southern California, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The district extends from Oxnard to the Mexican border, and to Hemet in Riverside County in the east.

“It certainly is encouraging that we are able to track a reduction in water use for six weeks now,� said Gomperz. “People are taking heed.�

Actually, the MWD is delivering more water than ever before, said Gomperz. But that is in large part because of population increases and to the increased demands of Los Angeles, which normally takes only 5% of its water from the MWD. This year, because of reduced deliveries from the Owens Valley, the city is receiving 25% of its supply from the district.

The City of Los Angeles has initiated its own water conservation program, which includes issuing water conservation kits to residents. The city Department of Water and Power has requested a 9.9% rate increase to raise $24 million, in part to pay for the extra MWD water.

Needs Growing Fast

Gomperz said officials are especially impressed with the voluntary adherence to the conservation program because the region’s water needs are growing so fast. There are 14 million people in the district, 2 million more than lived here during the last drought, which hit in 1976-77. At that time, a voluntary water conservation program yielded a 10% to 15% water savings, Gomperz said.

With its outside sources of water, semi-arid Southern California is in an advantageous position, even compared to some greener Northern California areas, which face tough water restrictions. The East Bay Municipal Utility District has cut water use 30%. Marin County officials are warning their customers that unless they cut their use by 15% this weekend, mandatory rationing will be imposed.