Placer County Water Rationing Likely After Canal Break
PLACER COUNTY (CBS13) - The damage may be far from over following a massive canal break in Placer County.
Farmers and ranchers are now facing water shortages and residents could be asked to ration water usage in the near future.
A rockslide caused the canal to collapse two weeks ago.
The water supply has been cut to the Placer County Water Agency by 80 percent.
Water service to homes is not affected yet, but the 3,400 customers who need to water crops and live stock there, are already being impacted.
"We've been notified we won't get water," said cattle farmer Carol Scheiber. "With no water, we're in deep trouble."
Scheiber says once fields dry out, she'll be forced to bring in costly hay to feed her cattle.
PG&E customers are being told it could take the summer to finish repairs.
The water agency will consider declaring a water emergency at a special meeting next week. That would mean mandatory water rationing for some residential customers.
