ADVISORY/Metropolitan to Join Inland Valley Water Agencies in Signing of Agreement for Huge Groundwater Storage Project.

News Editors/City Desks

ADVISORY...for Thursday (June 19)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:
        A week after state officials threatened to dump the
        Southland's water into the Pacific Ocean, officials from
        Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and three
        Inland Valley water agencies will sign a 25-year agreement for
        massive groundwater storage project in an aquifer underlying
        much of the valley. The project will store more than 30
        billion gallons of water when it's available and use portions
        of it during dry times and emergencies.

WHEN:
        1 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at the start of the Chino Basin
        Watermaster board of directors meeting

WHERE:
        Chino Basin Watermaster offices
        8632 Archibald Ave., Suite 109
        Rancho Cucamonga
        (San Bernardino County Thomas Guide, page 602 J-3)

PARTICIPANTS:
        -- Ronald R. Gastelum, Metropolitan president
            and chief executive officer
        -- Richard Atwater, general manager, Inland Empire
            Utilities Agency
        -- Richard W. Hansen, general manager/chief engineer,
            Three Valleys Municipal Water District
        -- John V. Rossi, chief executive officer,
            Chino Basin Watermaster

BACKGROUND:
        The partnership among Metropolitan, Inland Empire, Three
        Valleys and the Chino Basin Watermaster will provide up to
        100,000 acre-feet of storage in the basin, a large aquifer
        underlying an area stretching from the city of Pomona to
        Chino. During dry years and emergencies, the project will
        produce enough water for more than 65,000 families.