Millions must cut water use in drought-stricken California

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - Southern California’s gigantic water supplier took the unprecedented step of requiring about 6 million people to cut their outdoor watering to one day a week as drought continues to plague the state.

The board of the Metropolitan Water District of southern California declared a water shortage emergency and required the cities and water agencies it supplies to implement the cutback on June 1 and enforce it or face hefty fines.

The Metropolitan Water District uses water from the Colorado River and the state water project to supply 26 public water agencies that provide water to 19 million people, which is 40% of the state’s population.

The state Senate overwhelmingly voted last week to lower the standard use of water per person, but the bill has not yet passed the Assembly, meaning it is still likely months away from becoming law.