QUARTZ HILL — California Water Service (Cal Water) has lifted its emergency water conservation request for Leona Valley customers that stemmed from storm damage to the California Aqueduct in mid-October.
The aqueduct provides the majority of the water for the Leona Valley through local wholesaler, the Antelope Valley – East Kern Water Agency (AVEK). AVEK’s connection to the aqueduct was shut down by the state Department of Water Resources for emergency repairs. The connection was expected to reopen in late November, but it reopened ahead of schedule because the state completed repairs sooner.
During the shutdown, Cal Water asked its Leona Valley customers to eliminate all outdoor water use unless absolutely necessary for health and safety. Customers were also asked to reduce indoor use as much as possible to prevent interruptions in water service.
“We are pleased that we were able to continue providing our customers with water service around the clock without any interruptions in service,” stated Local Manager Chris Whitley. “Our customers rose to the occasion and were diligent about reducing their water use. That, coupled with careful planning to manage our resources, prevented what could have resulted in significant water shortage issues.”
Customers still need to continue to use water wisely, Whitley noted.
“Losing our access to the aqueduct has really brought to light the fragility of the local water supply. We have worked to obtain additional groundwater sources in order to lessen Cal Water’s dependency on purchased surface water over recent years, and we will continue our work to secure additional, long-term supplies,” Whitley added.
Cal Water serves about 3,400 people through 1,400 service connections in the Antelope Valley area. The company has provided water service in the area since 2000. For more information on Cal Water, visit www.calwater.com.
[Information via news release from California Water Service.]
Previous related story:
Cal Water urges Leona Valley customers to take emergency water conservation measures
–