West Valley to Reduce Water Use

June 7, 2004
By CONOR FRIEDERSDORF, Staff Writer

A final warning was issued Sunday that West Valley residents must drastically cut their water use this week because a major pipeline is being closed for emergency repairs.

The weeklong shutdown was to take affect at 12:01 a.m. this morning.

Water officials want 1million residents from Fontana to La Verne to stop washing cars, spraying down driveways and watering plants and lawns while workers in Webb Canyon in Claremont begin emergency repairs to a 96-inch pipeline that carries imported water to homes and businesses.

Residents of Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Upland, Chino, Chino Hills and Montclair should stop all outdoor water use, officials said.

"It's critical that everyone conserves as much water as possible during these repairs,' said Bob Muir, spokesman for the Metropolitan Water District which owns the pipeline.

"Some areas are affected more directly than others, but we're asking everyone to conserve, because water conserved in one area can be used in another area.'

Local water agencies have spent the last week preparing for the shutdown by urging the public to conserve water, seek alternate water sources, work with big water users to curtail water use for a week, and fill reservoirs to capacity prior to the shutdown.

The Cucamonga Valley Water District will be hardest hit, since 60percent of its water is imported from Northern California. Customers of the district have been asked to cut the amount of water they use by half.

District employees will be driving around the area today, looking for people who are watering lawns, washing cars or wasting water.

Since local officials have declared a water emergency, they have the authority to shut off the water of anyone who fails to comply with the conservation measures.

Sondra Elrod, spokeswoman for Inland Empire Utility Agency, which wholesales water for the local water districts, said most calls she's received on the upcoming repairs have an altruistic tone.

"Actually the calls I've been getting have been nice,' Elrod said. "It's mostly, 'What can we do?''

Since each city's water needs will be slightly different, Elrod encouraged residents who still have questions about how repairs will affect their area to contact their local water district.

Muir said the water district doesn't anticipate any problems with repairs over the next few days.

Repairs are expected to conclude June 14 at midnight.

Staff writer Jannise Johnson contributed to this report.

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