Experience Counts

By George S. Cambero

I have Over 37 Years as a Water Professional. "I worked for EVMWD for over 32 years on documenting the water supply, flow and the history of water rights. I know where the water is!"

What Will Year Four Look Like? Metropolitan continues to face water supply challenges in both of its imported water sources in Northern California and the Colorado River. The Southland is receiving the smallest allocation in the 43-year history of State Water Project deliveries from Northern California after three years of drought. State deliveries, which normally account for about a third of the Southland's annual supplies, stand at only 5 percent of a full allocation.

The giant wholesaler that provides drinking water for half the California population has drained two-thirds of its stored supplies as the state contends with a punishing drought, officials said Monday.

Without plentiful rain and snow in coming months, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California could consider cutbacks to its regional distributors next year. If such limits are approved, that could lead to rationing or cuts for households in portions of Southern California.

"We've gone through a little more than two-thirds of our storage in the last three years," Jeffrey Kightlinger, the agency's general manager, said in a speech in downtown Los Angeles. "Obviously, this it can't go on indefinitely."

At the current rate, billions of gallons in remaining agency reserves could be exhausted in about 18 months. The agency built up those reserves over time as a hedge against the state's periodic droughts.

But those supplies have tightened as the state has experienced a combination of sparse rainfall and unusually warm temperatures -- 2014 is on track to be the hottest year in California since record-keeping began over a century ago.

"The situation was have this year is pretty much unprecedented," Kightlinger said.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who declared a drought emergency earlier this year, is urging residents to voluntarily reduce water use.

As ratepayers and customers we continue to hear the word DROUGHT but continue to approve housing projects with no guarantee that water can be provided for the next 20 years. I know the history of water connections and our water rights and I am concerned. If the drought continues as reported in the news, there will need to be safeguards and proven guarantees for current ratepayers. I will focus the attention to water resources that are not currently being utilized efficiently.

With our water resources continuing to be a challenge throughout California, we need to develop a Regional Recycled Water Master Plan, to assure that we will have water today and into the future.

I will seek cuts in areas of wasteful spending before EVER voting on another increase.

My lifelong work experience at EVMWD has provided me with the insight to succeed as your Director. I know where the water is and what we need to do to create a Ground Water Supply Master Plan for today and into the future.

I promise to:

• Practice Fiscal Responsibility
• Uphold the Duties of the Mission Statement
• Remain Accountable to the Ratepayers
• Keep Communications Open