
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><head><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml><o:OfficeDocumentSettings><o:AllowPNG/><o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch></o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--></head><body><div class="ydp1fb7b115yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:garamond, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px;"><div><div class="ydp1fb7b115signature" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><a href="https://www.latimes.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com</a></div><div class="ydp1fb7b115signature"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><h1 class="ydp6ad53ab1headline" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-family: times new roman, times, serif; font-weight: 500; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: -0.2px;">Unprecedented water restrictions ordered as MWD declares water shortage emergency<span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span></h1><div class="ydp6ad53ab1page-wrapper" style="margin-top: 40px;"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1page-main-content"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1page-lead-media" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><img class="ydp6ad53ab1image" alt="Dropping water levels leave a chalky ring around Diamond Valley Lake." src="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7ee944a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F62%2F42%2F85761c9a44448a41753080bc406c%2Fla-photos-1staff-792020-me-diamond-lake-6-rcg.jpg" style="display: block; max-width: 800px; vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; margin-bottom: 10px; width: 100%;"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1figure-content" style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 500; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px;"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1figure-caption" style="display: inline;">Dropping water levels leave a “bathtub ring” around Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet in June. The reservoir is a major drinking water storage facility for 18 million Southern Californians. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Water District declared a water shortage emergency and moved to restrict outdoor watering to just once a week in parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as well as certain areas of the Inland Empire.</div><div class="ydp6ad53ab1figure-credit" style="display: inline; margin-left: 5px;">(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)</div></div></div><div class="ydp6ad53ab1byline" style="margin-bottom: 20px; max-width: 680px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1authors" style="margin-bottom: 12px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1author-name" style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; font-style: normal; display: inline; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="ydp6ad53ab1byline-prefix">BY</span><span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link" href="https://www.latimes.com/people/ian-james" data-click="standardBylineAuthorName" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; background-color: transparent;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IAN JAMES</a><span class="ydp6ad53ab1author-title" style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 500; font-style: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; display: inline;">STAFF WRITER </span></div></div><span class="ydp6ad53ab1published-date-day">APRIL 26, 2022<span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="ydp6ad53ab1published-time">3:19 PM PT<span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><div class="ydp6ad53ab1page-actions" style="display: block;"><ul class="ydp6ad53ab1action-bar-menu" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: none;"><li style="margin-right: 5px;"><a class="ydp6ad53ab1action-link" href="https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=134435029966155&display=popup&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fcalifornia%2Fstory%2F2022-04-26%2Fmwd-declares-water-emergency-and-restricts-outdoor-watering" data-social-service="facebook" data-social-trigger="actionBar" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; background-color: transparent; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: block;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 1px; min-height: 1px;">Facebook</span></a></li><li style="margin-right: 5px;"><a class="ydp6ad53ab1action-link ydp6ad53ab1ActionLink" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fcalifornia%2Fstory%2F2022-04-26%2Fmwd-declares-water-emergency-and-restricts-outdoor-watering&text=Unprecedented%20water%20restrictions%20ordered%20as%20MWD%20declares%20water%20shortage%20emergency" data-social-service="twitter" data-social-trigger="actionBar" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; background-color: transparent; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: block;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 1px; min-height: 1px;">Twitter</span></a></li><li style="margin-right: 5px;"><a class="ydp6ad53ab1action-link" data-dropdown-trigger="" href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-04-26/mwd-declares-water-emergency-and-restricts-outdoor-watering#" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; background-color: transparent; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: block;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 1px; min-height: 1px;">Show more sharing options</span></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="ydp6ad53ab1page-article-container" style="max-width: 680px; margin: 0px auto;"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1page-article-body"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1rich-text-article-body"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1rich-text-article-body-content ydp6ad53ab1rich-text-body" data-subscriber-content="" style="font-family: times new roman, times, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 30px;">Southern California water officials took the unprecedented step Tuesday of declaring a water shortage emergency and restricting outdoor watering to just one day a week in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties — an action that will impact about 6 million people.<span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">The outdoor watering restrictions would take effect June 1, according to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and apply to areas that are dependent on water from the drought-ravaged State Water Project.</p><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">“We are seeing conditions unlike anything we have seen before,” said Adel Hagekhalil, the district’s general manager. “We need serious demand reductions.”</p><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">The MWD’s board has never before taken such a step and<span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link" href="https://mwdh2o.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10838150&GUID=3EAF5D95-F527-4B68-9168-D5E14E5C6A0D" style="text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; background-color: transparent;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the resolution adopted by the water wholesaler</a><span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span>marks the first widespread water restrictions imposed in Southern California during this most recent period of<span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link" href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-01/california-drought-will-continue-after-dry-winter" style="text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; background-color: transparent;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">extreme drought</a>.</p><div class="ydp6ad53ab1enhancement" data-click="enhancement" data-align-center="" style="clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-wrapper"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-media" data-click="media" style="position: relative; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; max-width: 110px; width: 110px;"><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link ydp6ad53ab1promo-placeholder" href="https://www.latimes.com/projects/can-endangered-california-chinook-salmon-be-saved-from-extinction" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; display: block; position: relative; padding-bottom: 73.25px; min-height: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img class="ydp6ad53ab1image" alt="Illustration of a Chinook salmon breaching with a dam in the background" data-srcset="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7acf8ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/110x73!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc8%2Fdb%2Fffb300d644b6a5d5fac241bf86c2%2Fla-me-endangered-salmon-share.jpg 110w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/41b8846/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/180x120!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc8%2Fdb%2Fffb300d644b6a5d5fac241bf86c2%2Fla-me-endangered-salmon-share.jpg 180w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9a05cdc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/320x213!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc8%2Fdb%2Fffb300d644b6a5d5fac241bf86c2%2Fla-me-endangered-salmon-share.jpg 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8527d8e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/568x379!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc8%2Fdb%2Fffb300d644b6a5d5fac241bf86c2%2Fla-me-endangered-salmon-share.jpg 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5dc52a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/768x512!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc8%2Fdb%2Fffb300d644b6a5d5fac241bf86c2%2Fla-me-endangered-salmon-share.jpg 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e4e6f99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc8%2Fdb%2Fffb300d644b6a5d5fac241bf86c2%2Fla-me-endangered-salmon-share.jpg 840w" data-sizes="100vw" data-src="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e4e6f99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc8%2Fdb%2Fffb300d644b6a5d5fac241bf86c2%2Fla-me-endangered-salmon-share.jpg" src="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e4e6f99/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1333+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc8%2Fdb%2Fffb300d644b6a5d5fac241bf86c2%2Fla-me-endangered-salmon-share.jpg" style="display: block; max-width: 800px; vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; width: 100%; color: transparent;"></a></div><div class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-content"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-title-container"><p class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-category" data-click="category" style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase;"><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link" href="https://www.latimes.com/environment" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; color: inherit; background-color: transparent;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT</a></p><p class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-title" data-click="title" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: times new roman, times, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.2px;"><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link" href="https://www.latimes.com/projects/can-endangered-california-chinook-salmon-be-saved-from-extinction" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; background-color: transparent;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">California salmon are at risk of extinction. A plan to save them stirs hope and controversy</a></p></div><p class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-timestamp" data-date="April 7, 2022" data-shouldshowdate="true" data-shouldshowtime="true" data-timestamp="1649323812841" data-show-timestamp="true" style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; display: block; margin: 0px; text-transform: none;">April 7, 2022</p></div></div></div><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">With the state’s major reservoirs at low levels, the MWD has been left without enough water to meet demands in parts of Southern California, officials said.</p><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">MWD’s board voted to adopt the emergency measures to “reduce non-essential water use” in certain areas. Cities and smaller water suppliers that get water from MWD are required to start restricting outdoor watering to one day a week, or to find other ways to cut usage to a new monthly allocation limit.</p><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">Any water suppliers that fail to comply could face large fines from the MWD for exceeding their monthly allocations.</p><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">The State Water Project delivers water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to farmlands and cities to the south. The project includes canals, pipelines, reservoirs and pumping facilities, which transport water to approximately 27 million Californians.</p><div class="ydp6ad53ab1enhancement" data-click="enhancement" data-align-center="" style="clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-wrapper"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-media" data-click="media" style="position: relative; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; max-width: 110px; width: 110px;"><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link ydp6ad53ab1promo-placeholder" href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-04-15/l-a-gets-less-water-from-mono-lake-due-to-declining-levels" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; display: block; position: relative; padding-bottom: 73.25px; min-height: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img class="ydp6ad53ab1image" alt="LEE VINING, CA - October 26 2021: Passing clouds provide a striking backdrop for exposed tufa towers along the shore of Mono Lake on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021 in Lee Vining, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)" data-srcset="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7cfe27f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/110x73!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fef%2F09573c1a4653ae343cf17f18af3b%2Fla-photos-1staff-861057-me-water-diversions-mono-lake-2-brv.jpg 110w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ba77a98/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/180x120!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fef%2F09573c1a4653ae343cf17f18af3b%2Fla-photos-1staff-861057-me-water-diversions-mono-lake-2-brv.jpg 180w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0cdc85d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/320x213!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fef%2F09573c1a4653ae343cf17f18af3b%2Fla-photos-1staff-861057-me-water-diversions-mono-lake-2-brv.jpg 320w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c154624/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/568x379!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fef%2F09573c1a4653ae343cf17f18af3b%2Fla-photos-1staff-861057-me-water-diversions-mono-lake-2-brv.jpg 568w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5eeaa38/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/768x512!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fef%2F09573c1a4653ae343cf17f18af3b%2Fla-photos-1staff-861057-me-water-diversions-mono-lake-2-brv.jpg 768w,https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e220f9f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fef%2F09573c1a4653ae343cf17f18af3b%2Fla-photos-1staff-861057-me-water-diversions-mono-lake-2-brv.jpg 840w" data-sizes="100vw" data-src="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e220f9f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fef%2F09573c1a4653ae343cf17f18af3b%2Fla-photos-1staff-861057-me-water-diversions-mono-lake-2-brv.jpg" src="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e220f9f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3600x2400+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Fef%2F09573c1a4653ae343cf17f18af3b%2Fla-photos-1staff-861057-me-water-diversions-mono-lake-2-brv.jpg" style="display: block; max-width: 800px; vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; width: 100%; color: transparent;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></a></div><div class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-content"><div class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-title-container"><p class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-category" data-click="category" style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: uppercase;"><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link" href="https://www.latimes.com/california" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; color: inherit; background-color: transparent;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CALIFORNIA</a></p><p class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-title" data-click="title" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: times new roman, times, serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.2px;"><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link" href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-04-15/l-a-gets-less-water-from-mono-lake-due-to-declining-levels" style="text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; background-color: transparent;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">As drought hammers Mono Lake, thirsty Los Angeles must look elsewhere for water</a></p></div><p class="ydp6ad53ab1promo-timestamp" data-date="April 15, 2022" data-shouldshowdate="true" data-shouldshowtime="true" data-timestamp="1650024004861" data-show-timestamp="true" style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; display: block; margin: 0px; text-transform: none;">April 15, 2022</p></div></div></div><div class="ydp6ad53ab1enhancement" data-click="enhancement" data-align-center="" style="clear: both; margin: 30px 0px; width: 680px;"><div id="ydp6ad53ab1nativo_1"><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">After a record dry start to 2022, California<span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span><a class="ydp6ad53ab1link enhancr_card_1444069870" href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-18/california-cuts-state-water-project-allocation-to-5-percent" style="text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; background-color: transparent;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">water officials slashed the project’s expected deliveries</a><span class="ydp6ad53ab1Apple-converted-space"> </span>this year to just 5% of full allocations.</p><div><br></div><div id="ydp8a55bf41enhancr_card_1444069870" class="ydp8a55bf41yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp8a55bf41ymail-preserve-class ydp8a55bf41ymail-preserve-style" style="max-w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body></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a><div class="loadingSpinnerContainer" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);"><div class="D_F F_n gl_C ab_C H_6MGW o_h"><div class="W_6MGW H_6MGW D_X ah_1PEzoz" data-test-id="loading_indicator"><svg class="W_6MGW H_6MGW ah_Zq6hUs" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="24" height="24"><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,22C6.477,22,2,17.523,2,12S6.477,2,12,2"></path><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,2c5.523,0,10,4.477,10,10s-4.477,10-10,10"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">Areas that depend heavily or entirely on the State Water Project include northwestern L.A. County and Ventura County, parts of the San Gabriel Valley and parts of the Inland Empire.</p><p style="margin: 30px 0px;">The MWD imports water from the State Water Project and the Colorado River, serving 26 public water agencies across six counties that supply 19 million people, about half the state’s population.</p><p style="margin: 30px 0px 0px;"><i>This is a breaking story and will be updated.</i></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>