Pomona Valley, West Inland Empire Residents Asked to Make Plans to Cut Down on Water Use During Upcoming Pipeline Shutdown.

News Editors/Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2004

Urgent Repairs on Major Large-Diameter Water Line to Begin

Next Monday (June 7), Affecting up to 1 Million

Consumers from La Verne to Fontana

Residents and businesses in the Pomona Valley and western Inland Empire are being called upon to make plans to suspend outdoor watering and non-essential indoor water use while a major regional water pipeline undergoes urgent repairs during a seven-day shutdown beginning next Monday (June 7).

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 precautionary water-saving request today as Metropolitan prepares for the planned shutdown of its Rialto Feeder pipeline.

The affected areas include the cities and communities of La Verne, Claremont, Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland and Fontana.

"Water agencies and cities throughout this area will either seek voluntary and, in some cases, mandatory reductions in water use during this repair period," said Richard Atwater, general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency.

Richard Hansen, Three Valleys general manager, said conservation by consumers and businesses would be essential to help endure the shutdown without further disruptions or inconveniences.

"This is a critical repair coming during a typically warm period. We all need to do our part to reduce water use while the repairs are made," Hansen said.

Jill T. Wicke, Metropolitan's manager of water system operations, said the 96-inch Rialto pipeline is scheduled for routine maintenance and repairs this winter, but a recent inspection of the line revealed sections that need 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, Wicke said.

Metropolitan's 26-mile Rialto Feeder is the only source of supplemental water to 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 were not able to prepare by coordinating water supplies and storage with the six-to eight-month lead time usually provided by Metropolitan. With a major water source shutoff, some water agencies, such as Cucamonga Valley Water District, have issued a "water supply emergency" declaration that allows officials to impose emergency conservation actions. Residents who want to know more about how the shutdown will affect them should contact their water provider directly.

Before pipeline repairs begin, residents and businesses will be asked to plan to do their part to ensure reservoirs and local supplies won't be drained (see corresponding list of tips). These steps include stopping outdoor watering of landscapes and lawns, hand-washing vehicles, refraining from filling of swimming pools or spas, and hosing down driveways and sidewalks from June 7 until the pipeline repairs are complete.

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.

The call for outdoor conservation is consistent with Metropolitan's ongoing region-wide public outreach campaign that encourages reductions in outdoor water use through more efficient irrigation and use of native, drought-tolerant plants in landscapes.

The following are helpful tips for consumers in preparing for Metropolitan Water District's upcoming seven-day shutdown of the Rialto Feeder pipeline, affecting communities from La Verne and Fontana.

THINGS TO DO NOW, BEFORE JUNE 7

Tuesday, June 1

-- Do not plant new landscaping, which typically requires

continual watering to establish plants, shrubs and trees.

Delay new plantings until after June 15.

-- Set mowers for a higher cut than normal. Longer blades of

grass help reduce evaporation. Or, avoid mowing altogether.

-- Avoid fertilizing lawns and plants prior to the shutdown.

Fertilizer encourages growth, which requires more water.

Wednesday, June 2

-- For houseplants that have a deep collection dish at the base

of the pot, fill the dish Sunday night so plants can draw on

that water throughout the week. Also, fill large containers,

like trash bins, and use that water for hand watering delicate

plants during the week as necessary. If trash bins are filled

with water, do not to try to wheel them when they are full of

water because they will be unstable and could fall and hurt

the handler. Remove water from trash bins and other large

containers with a bucket to distribute it to sensitive plants.

Thursday, June 3

-- Between Thursday and Saturday, deep-water trees and shrubs by

either setting out soaker hoses or regular hoses set on a slow

trickle. Water until the soil is soaked to a depth of about 8

- 12 inches (deeper for trees, more shallow for shrubs). Use a

soil probe or a shovel to determine the depth to which the

water has percolated.

Friday, June 4

-- Do all dirty laundry before Saturday night and then avoid

using the clothes washer during the period of shutdown. If

clothes washers absolutely must be used, collect the rinse

water in buckets for use on plants.

Saturday, June 5

-- Do a normal, thorough watering of lawns on Saturday, June 5.

Do not water more than normal because the extra water will

percolate below the roots of the grass and be wasted. Make

sure to hand-water "hot" or dry spots of lawns. Be sure to set

timers to the "OFF" position Saturday night as the shutdown

begins just after midnight.

-- Wash vehicles on Saturday.

-- Do final fill-ups of any large containers.

Sunday, June 6

-- Do not water landscapes or lawns. Do not wash cars.

TIPS DURING SHUTDOWN

-- Take short showers (2-3 minutes). Soak, turn the water off,

soap up, and then turn the water on, wash off. Do not use the

warm shower as a sauna.

-- Also, put a bucket in the shower to collect the water before

the shower warms up. Use this water for plants.

-- Use collected water in trash bins or bathtubs to hand-water

houseplants and sensitive outdoor plants and those areas of

the lawn that may show excessive stress (the hot spots).

-- Do not leave water running when washing dishes.

-- Run only full loads in washing machine and dishwasher.

-- Do not leave water running when brushing your teeth or

shaving.

-- Do not mow your lawns. Minimize the use of your lawn (i.e.

playing on it, leaving vehicles on it) to reduce stress on the

turf.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other water-management programs.