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Orange County Cities Ask State To Send More Water To The Region

COSTA MESA (CBSLA.com)  —   Dozens of Orange County cities have banded together with a common goal -- to get more water for the region.

Representatives from several of those cities met with the State Water Board Friday evening in Costa Mesa.

KCAL9's Stacey Butler says the cities claim water levels are again above average following drought conservation and the state should loosen up on restrictions.

They argued that the Sierra snow pack is again above average so why not lighten up on the new drought rules.

"We are still in a very deep hole," said State Water Resources Control Board chair Felicia Marcus.

That's not what hundreds of city leaders wanted to hear Friday night.

She said the state reservoir levels were still half empty. Marcus also said no decision to ease up on restrictions would be made before at least mid-February.

That is bad news for a city like Yorba Linda .Butler reported they were ordered to cut water usage by as much as 38 percent last year.

That city also faces possible litigation from residents who want to end the $25 monthly rate hike.

The Municipal Water District of Orange County organized the meeting. The state agreed to work with the city leaders to come up with alternative ideas and incentives to conserve water.

 

 

 

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