Yorba Linda Water District: 35 percent water cut is 'unrealistic'

YORBA LINDA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Yorba Linda Water District faces a daunting task of reducing its water usage by 35 percent.

The State Water Resources Control Board recommended the maximum cut for 135 agencies in the state, including six in Orange County, in response to Governor Jerry Brown's drought mandate.

"Thirty-five percent is an unrealistic number given how much we've already cut," said Damon Micalizzi, public affairs manager for Yorba Linda Water District.

Micalizzi added it's an unfair request that could create dangerous conditions.

"We're in a virtual wind tunnel. We've seen what fires can do to this region. How do you think our customers will feel if we ask them to let everything dry up?" Micalizzi said.

Data from the state shows Yorba Linda Water District customers actually cut their usage by about 40 percent from September 2014 to February.

That's due in large part to residents like Janet McGuire, who took out the grass in their front yard and put in rocks. She and her daughter want to do the same in the backyard.

"Our water bill really isn't really that bad, that's why I don't know how I would cut 35 percent more," said McGuire, a Placentia resident.

On Monday, Yorba Linda Water District sent a letter to the state water board, calling the proposed regulation "unreasonable."

Micalizzi said if the cuts move forward, it's going to hurt everyone, especially consumers on a budget.

"It'll have a dramatic impacts to our agency, and those impacts to our agency will be felt by our customers and they'll be felt on their water bill," Micalizzi said.

Like many agencies in the state, Yorba Linda Water District officials plan to wait to make changes in mid-May, when the state water board is scheduled to adopt new regulations.

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