Southern California officials declare water supply alert

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

LOS 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. “This is a wake-up call for what lies ahead," said Deven Upadhyay, chief operating officer for the district that supplies water to 19 million Californians.