Residents in Eastern Los Angeles, Western San Bernardino Counties Ask to Suspeend Outdoor Water Use During Pipeline Shutdown.

Residents in Eastern Los Angeles, Western San Bernardino Counties Asked to Suspend Outdoor Water Use During Pipeline Shutdown
Urgent Repairs on Major Large-Diameter Water Line to Begin April 16, Affecting More Than 1 Million Consumers from La Verne to Fontana

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 1 million consumers in eastern Los Angeles and western San Bernardino counties are being called upon to suspend outdoor watering and non-essential indoor water use while a major regional water pipeline is taken out of service for nine days for urgent repairs beginning Monday, April 16.

Officials from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Three Valleys Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency and local retail water agencies made the water-saving request today as Metropolitan prepares for the repair of its Rialto Feeder pipeline.

In response to the shutdown, consumers in the cities of La Verne, Claremont, Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland and Fontana are being asked to save water and stretch local supplies.

"Water agencies and cities throughout this area will either seek voluntary or, in some cases, mandatory reductions in water use during this repair period," said Richard Atwater, general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency. "Residents who want to know more about how the shutdown will affect them should contact their water provider directly."

Richard Hansen, Three Valleys general manager, said conservation by consumers and businesses is essential to help complete the pipeline repairs without disruptions in service.

"This is a critical repair coming as spring weather commences. We all need to do our part to reduce water use while the repairs are made," Hansen said. "Along with following our conservation request, residents also may consider postponing their spring plantings until after the shutdown."

Debra C. Man, Metropolitan's chief operating officer, said the 96-inch-diameter Rialto pipeline was inspected earlier this year as part of efforts to install upgrades along the water line. Man said recent inspection results revealed a weakened pipeline section needing immediate attention.

Metropolitan routinely schedules shutdowns of its facilities in winter months, when temperatures usually are cooler and demands are lower, to complete inspections and perform maintenance and upgrades with the least impact on consumers, Man said.

The 30-mile Rialto Feeder extends from the Devil Canyon Power Plant north of San Bernardino to Metropolitan's San Dimas Power Plant, delivering up to 450,000 gallons of imported water a minute for about 6 million total residents.

The pipeline is the only source of supplemental water for communities served by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, which relies on Metropolitan water for about 30 percent of its water supply needs. Three Valleys, which uses Metropolitan water for up to 60 percent of its needs, has the ability to receive imported water through an alternate MWD pipeline.

Due to the immediate need to repair the line, water agencies have a limited amount of lead-time to prepare and coordinate water supplies and storage. In routine maintenance situations, Metropolitan typically provides six to eight months for agencies to prepare. With a major water source cut off, some water agencies have issued a more stringent call for conservation measures to ensure there is an adequate supply for its consumers.

Before pipeline repairs begin, residents and businesses will be asked to do their part to ensure reservoirs and local supplies won't be drained. Steps include stopping outdoor watering of landscapes and lawns, hand-washing vehicles, filling swimming pools or spas, and hosing down driveways and sidewalks beginning April 16 until the pipeline repairs are complete April 24.

Other water-saving measures can include running only full loads of clothes washers and dishwashers, not leaving the water running when washing dishes, keeping showers to a maximum of 10 minutes and not leaving the water running when brushing your teeth or shaving.

Residents should be aware that some municipal parks and landscape areas that are irrigated with recycled water will not be impacted by the shutdown.

For more conservation tips and water-saving rebate information, residents and businesses can visit "www.bewaterwise.com ."



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BS Ranch Perspective:

I seriously hope for their sake that they don't find any Perchlorate in the water supplies that they are digging into!! Because if they do they are in for one hell of a fight that will not seem to ever end. Even when the companies that were at fault or preserved at fault, who have said, that they will pay for the damages are still being taken to court, by the most greediest people. I mean who else would take them to court when they say that they would pay for the problems, that they are having with the water situation. I sometimes scratch my head in wonderment at the millionaires that are fighting this battles and wonder if it wasn't better to get a couple of homeless people in there to fight for the rights instead!!

You know, someone with not so big hands that are not always digging so deep into other peoples deep pockets.

BS Ranch