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San Diego Residents Are Asked to Conserve Water

San Diego water agencies are asking residents to conserve water for the next week-and-a-half while upgrades are made to a major regional water treatment plan. KPBS ReporterEd Joyce has details.

San Diego Residents Are Asked to Conserve Water

San Diego water agencies are asking residents to conserve water for the next week-and-a-half while upgrades are made to a major regional water treatment plan. KPBS ReporterEd Joyce has details.

The San Diego County Water Authority and other county agencies say the water-saving request is voluntary, but some mandatory restrictions could be imposed if local supplies dwindle during the shutdown. Water Authority spokesman Bill Jacoby says the work at the Skinner treatment plant near Temecula will increase the water treatment capacity by 110 million-gallons to serve the needs of the region.

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Jacoby: There’s been tremendous growth in Riverside County as well as some growth, additional growth in San Diego. The plant has been expanded dramatically to keep up with that growth, however, some plumbing changes need to be made.

Jacoby says the authority gets nearly 45-percent of its treated water from the Skinner plant each day. He says the agency will also inspect and repair canals and pipes that bring water to the region during the shutdown. The improvements at the Skinner plant are expected to be completed by next summer. Ed Joyce, KPBS News.