EMWD clarifies position on drought restrictions

Press release from Eastern Municipal Water District:

PERRIS -- Eastern Municipal Water District would like to recognize the courageous and necessary steps taken this week by the Board of Directors for The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to implement mandatory conservation measures in response to rapidly worsening drought conditions throughout California and the western United States.

This historic step by MWD is targeted toward agencies that are most heavily dependent on imported water supplies from the State Water Project (SWP) system. Customers in SWP dependent areas will be asked to reduce outdoor irrigation to one day per week to accommodate significant reductions in water deliveries from the SWP system. This does not apply to EMWD customers due to EMWD’s access to Colorado River water.

“EMWD has proactively adopted industry-leading water budgets and invested in a diverse and sustainable local water supply portfolio,” said EMWD Board President Phil Paule. “We’ve prepared for these types of cyclical water supply shortages.”

In November 2021, EMWD moved to Stage 3a of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, which asks customers to eliminate water waste and suspended variances for establishing new landscape and filling swimming pools.

As water supply conditions or state regulations evolve during the coming months, EMWD may be forced to ask more of its customers. However, at this time, we are asking that our customers continue their longstanding commitment to using water efficiently and consider more efficient landscape options. By doing so, we can all fulfill our responsibility in helping California through this unprecedented drought.

EMWD has a variety of resources, including its Landscapes for Living program, that can assist customers in becoming more efficient. EMWD also continues to encourage customers to replace turf with more sustainable landscaping, which MWD is supporting through its turf removal rebate program.