Officials decry MWD planBy Mike Sprague, Staff Writer
Local water officials are crying foul over a Metropolitan Water District drought plan that could cut deliveries by as much as 50 percent.
They're saying the plan is unfair to older areas, such as the southeast portion of Los Angeles County that have had less growth and also take less water than they're historically entitled.
Communities in the Central Basin Municipal Water District area (southeast Los Angeles County) take less water than entitled as a result of using groundwater and reclaimed wastewater, stated Santa Fe Springs Mayor Joe Serrano in a letter to MWD.
"Unfortunately, our efforts to minimize our reliance on MWD water will work against us in that under the proposed plan our inner city communities stand to lose more water while having to pay higher rates to subsidize those areas that are experiencing greater economic growth and developing beyond their water supply availability," Serrrano stated.
The board of MWD, which serves 18 million people in six counties, is expected to consider the plan at its Feb. 12 meeting.
Should the plan not be amended to take into account concerns of Central Basin, Art Aguilar, its general manager, said his district is prepared to go to court or seek a remedy in the state Legislature.
The drought plan would impose penalties from $1,200 to $2,400 per acre-foot on agencies that use more than their allotment.
MWD member agencies, such as Central Basin, would then pass down these penalties - how exactly has yet to be determined - to water utilities such as Orchard Dale Water District and Santa Fe Springs.
Each agency's allotment would be determined by a complex formula that starts with the base years of 2004-06. An agency's conservation efforts also would be tacked on to increase the allotment.
But Aguilar said the plan doesn't take into account recycled water used for landscaping, something Central Basin has emphasized. It only provides for devices, such as toilets, he added.
Older districts, such as Central Basin, also would get less water than it would receive as entitled to by its historic rights.
That means less of a cutback for newer areas that have had a lot of growth, he said.
"It's an issue of equity," he said. "We're subsidizing growth in other areas."
If the district's historic rights were used, Central Basin would be in good shape, Aguilar said.
"It doesn't mean we will waste water," he said. "Areas that are newer will have to find ways to find water. They're the ones that let development in."
Brian Thomas, assistant general manager for MWD, said a drought plan is needed in case the district has to make cutbacks.
"We recognize everyone will not be 100 percent happy," Thomas said. "We're trying to make it as fair as possible."
During the last drought of the early 1990s, MWD made cuts on an across-the-board basis.
Bob Muir, MWD spokesman, said it's too early to tell whether reductions in water deliveries will be required.
But investments in water recycling and management are included in the formula, Muir said.
Another objection to the plan deals with the sale of water for agriculture.
At a time MWD has stopped the sale of water used to replenish groundwater basins, the plan calls for agricultural water to be cut by only about 30 percent.
Muir said agricultural water goes to retail customers, while replenishment water doesn't.
"The impact is more immediate (for farmers) than actual cutbacks in replenishment," he said. "It normally doesn't have an impact on customers."
Tim Jochem, general manager of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, said replenishment water actually is better for water supply. It's the district that provides water for the underground basin that serves much of Whittier.
"When you make an acre foot delivery of water to an agricultural customers, all you get is basic cash flow," Jochem said. | 
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