Wholesale Water Supplier To Half California's Population Quickly Running Through Supplies As Drought Drags On
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) -- The giant wholesaler that provides drinking water for half the California population has run through two-thirds of its stored supplies as the state contends with a punishing drought.
That's according to Jeffrey Kightlinger, the general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Without plentiful rain and snow in coming months, Kightlinger said in a speech in Los Angeles Monday that the water agency could consider cutbacks to its regional distributors next year.
If such limits are approved, that could lead to rationing or cuts for households in portions of Southern California.
At the current rate, billions of gallons in remaining agency reserves could be drained in about 18 months.
Gov. Jerry Brown is urging residents to voluntarily reduce water use.
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