City Of Monrovia: Clarification On Metropolitan Water District's Water Restrictions

Monrovia CA

06 May, 2022

8:22 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Monrovia: May 3, 2022 On Tuesday, April 26, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Board of Directors declared a Water Shortage Emergency Condition and adopted an Emergency Water Conservation Program for areas that are dependent on State Water Project (SWP) supplies. By now many of us have seen the new mandate restricting outdoor water usage and are wondering if these restrictions apply to Monrovia. For the time being, the City of Monrovia will not be directly impacted by MWD's new watering restriction as explained below. MWD's mandatory one day per week outdoor watering restriction applies to member agencies that rely heavily on SWP supplies. However, that is not the only option provided under the MWD action. The adopted Emergency Water Conservation Program also includes an option for member agencies to manage within a Volumetric Limit for SWP deliveries for the remainder of this calendar year, which does not require the one day per week water restriction. Luckily, the San Gabriel Valley is unique in that we have a groundwater basin as our primary source of water supply. Monrovia began implementing a volumetric limit prior to the MWD action and before our peer cities when, in December, City Council adopted Phase II Drought Emergency Actions, which required all water customers to reduce consumption by 10% from 2020 usage. Monrovians who receive water from Cal American Water will also be given a volumetric limit so they, too, will not fall under MWD's mandate restricting outdoor watering. "Without significant SWP replenishment, the groundwater basin should reach a new low by end of summer. Therefore, it is imperative that we all work together to maximize our local supplies by increasing our conservation messaging and actions," according to Tom Love, General Manager of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. Although the City of Monrovia is not required to reduce outdoor watering to one day per week, it remains imperative we conserve water as historic drought conditions worsen and our groundwater basin level approaches historic lows. We strongly urge all residents continue to follow Phase II Drought emergency guidelines. This press release was produced by the City of Monrovia. The views expressed here are the author's own.