Southern California rain brings reminders of water conservation

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Rain may be sweeping across parts of Southern California, but state and local officials continue to urge residents to reduce their water usage.

Californians only reduced water use by 2.8 percent in February, the lowest cutback since the state began tracking conservation efforts since last summer. The figure was released Monday in Sacramento during a State Water Resources Control Board meeting.

The south coast, home to more than a third of Californians from San Diego to Los Angeles, actually showed an increase in water consumption despite longstanding calls for cutbacks.

"Obviously, very sobering times and ones where everybody needs to step up," water board chair Felicia Marcus said.

On Monday morning, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power issued a new message about water conservation.

"Shut off your sprinklers and give them the rest of the week off," the utility department tweeted.

Hundreds retweeted the advice. Eyewitness News spoke to other residents who offered their own suggestions.

"Cut back to two days a week (of) watering," Northridge resident Marty Fisher said. "It's more important that we have water than my grass look green."

The emphasis on water conservation comes after Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a mandatory reduction of water use statewide by 25 percent last week.

Next Tuesday, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California could take action to force conservation. Its board of directors is expected to vote on rationing imported water delivered to 26 cities and water districts serving nearly 19 million people in Southern California.

That could mean if local water suppliers exceed their allocation, they will pay much higher prices for water. On average, overages could cost four times as much as normal.

"We are recommending that we're going to do rationing somewhere between 10 and 20 percent. Our board will pick the final rationing level," said Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager of the water district.

He added cities that have already been conserving or have access to ground water will feel fewer impacts.

The last time Metropolitan Water District of Southern California rationed water was in 2009-2010, but none of its water districts had to pay for overages because of effective conservation efforts.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti believes Angelenos have been doing their part.

"L.A. can't carry the entire state. We have to make sure that other cities... every municipality does its fair share," Garcetti said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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