A major Southern California water agency has declared a water supply alert for the first time in seven years and is asking residents to voluntarily conserveLOS ANGELES -- A major Southern California water agency has declared a water supply alert for the first time in seven years and is asking residents to voluntarily conserve. The Los Angeles Times reports that the board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California took the step Tuesday, hoping to lessen the need for more severe actions such as reducing water supplies to member agencies. The move comes a day after U.S. officials declared the first-ever water shortage on the Colorado River, a key water source for Southern California. Concern about water supplies spread to the state's heavily-populated southern region following a winter of low precipitation and shrinking reservoirs throughout the West. The State Water Project, which collects water from rivers and tributaries, has already reduced the Southern California district's allocation to 5% and next year the amount could be zero, officials said.

Source: ABC News August 18, 2021 17:15 UTC