Critical Water Shortage , Causes California To Declare , Unprecedented Water Restrictions.
Al Jazeera reports that due to prolonged drought, the state of California is asking residents to use less water this summer or face dire shortages.
Such restrictions are unprecedented for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, .
Which has operated for almost 100 years serving at least 20 million Californians.
Officials have asked residents to scale back outdoor watering to ensure there's enough water for drinking, cooking and flushing toilets in the next few months.
This is real.
This is serious and unprecedented.
, Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, via Al Jazeera.
We need to do it, otherwise we don’t have enough water for indoor use... , Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, via Al Jazeera.
...which is the basic health and safety stuff we need every day.
, Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, via Al Jazeera.
Though limitations have been implemented in the past, officials say the new restrictions are the most stringent.
This is the first time we’ve said, we don’t have enough water to last us for the rest of the year, unless we cut our usage by 35 percent.
, Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, via Al Jazeera.
Much of the water intended for Southern California begins as snow in the Sierra Nevadas and the Rocky Mountains.
Much of the water intended for Southern California begins as snow in the Sierra Nevadas and the Rocky Mountains.
We have two systems – one in the California Sierras and one in the Rockies – and we’ve never had both systems drained, Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, via Al Jazeera.
This is the first time ever.
, Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, via Al Jazeera
