Residents and businesses in the east Los Angeles and west San Bernardino counties are being called upon to make plans to reduce outdoor watering and non-essential indoor water use while a major regional water pipeline is upgraded during a seven-day shutdown beginning Monday (Feb. 5).

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.  The shutdown is scheduled to run through Sunday, Feb. 11.

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 period,” said Richard Atwater, general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency.  “I encourage consumers who want more information to contact their local water provider directly.”

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.

"During this time of year, landscape experts tell us lawns should easily be able to last the entire shutdown without water," Hansen said.  "If it isn't raining, you may want to deep water your lawn and landscaping over the weekend.  Just be prepared to reduce your outdoor water use beginning Monday (Feb. 5).”

Debra C. Man, Metropolitan’s chief operating officer, said the district routinely schedulesrepairs and improvements of its facilities in winter months, when temperatures usually are cooler and demands are lower.

“These shutdowns permit us to complete inspections and perform necessary maintenance and upgrades with the least impact on consumers,” Man said.  “The upgrades are essential to maintain reliable water deliveries to communities and businesses.”

In upgrading the Foothill Feeder, Metropolitan plans to install concrete vaults in the 8-foot-diameter pipeline that will eventually house isolation valves to be installed in the future, Man said.  The district also plans to replace a 20-foot pipeline section, as well as inspect portions of the line.

The 30-mile Rialto Feeder extends west from the Devil Canyon Power Plant near San Bernardino to Metropolitan’s San Dimas Power Plant, delivering up to 450,000 gallons of imported water a minute for 6 million residents.  The pipeline 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.

Before work on the pipeline begins, residents and businesses are asked to plan to do their part to ensure reservoirs and local supplies won’t be drained.  Steps include reducing outdoor watering of landscapes and lawns, hand-washing vehicles, refraining from filling of swimming pools or spas, and hosing down driveways and sidewalks Feb. 5-11.

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.  Additional water-saving tips can be found at “bewaterwise.com.”

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.

For more information, consumers and businesses are asked to contact their local water provider:

East Los Angeles County:
City of La Verne	(909) 596-8744
Golden State Water Co.	(800) 999-4033
(City of Claremont)
West San Bernardino County:
City of Chino	(909) 464-8368
City of Chino Hills	(909) 364-2806
City of Ontario	(909) 395-2678
City of Upland	(909) 291-2935
Cucamonga Valley Water District	(909) 987-2591
Fontana Water Company	(909) 822-2201
Monte Vista Water District	(909) 624-0035

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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 resource-management programs.