EMWD asks for customers' help as drought approaches

News release from Eastern Municipal Water District:

PERRIS -- As California faces another drought associated with prolonged dry conditions, Eastern Municipal Water District wants to assure its customers that it is well-prepared to meet our regions’ water supply needs.

EMWD has been one of the state’s leading agencies in developing a diverse water supply portfolio in order to meet the needs of its residents, businesses, and recreational areas. That water supply portfolio includes the state’s premier recycled water system, expanded groundwater programs, and mutual investments with other agencies through The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to have record amounts of water in storage.

In the past two decades, EMWD customers have reduced water use by more than 40 percent per capita, per day. EMWD has also expanded its investments in programs that further promote efficient outdoor landscaping and irrigation, with more programs anticipated to be announced later this month.

“EMWD has proactively prepared for the cyclical nature of droughts through our customers’ investments in a secure and resilient water supply portfolio,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “We understand that droughts are an inevitable part of living in an arid climate. Because we have invested in the right programs, and through our customers’ culture of being efficient water users, we are in a strong position to meet our customers’ needs this year without any mandatory reductions in water budgets.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked all Californians for a 15-percent voluntary reduction in water use and expanded drought declarations to 50 of California’s 58 counties. Riverside County is not yet under a drought declaration.

EMWD is currently in Stage 2 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, which asks customers for a voluntary reduction in water use of up to 25 percent. EMWD encourages customers to focus their efficiency efforts on outdoor irrigation, where most water savings can be realized.

“EMWD has a wide variety of programs that can assist our customers with being even more efficient with outdoor irrigation,” Paule said. “We know our customers can do their part to voluntarily reduce water use to help California during this time of severe statewide drought.”

The latest information about EMWD’s water supply conditions may be found here.