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S.D. County Water Authority Banking Future Supplies

We've been reporting on multiple threats to San Diego's water supply almost every day this week. Because of anticipated supply shortages a San Diego agency is banking water for lean times. KPBS Report

S.D. County Water Authority Banking Future Supplies

We've been reporting on multiple threats to San Diego's water supply almost every day this week. Because of anticipated supply shortages a San Diego agency is banking water for lean times. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

The San Diego County Water Authority has reached a storage agreement with another agency at a time when Mother Nature and court rulings create shortages. Authority Assistant General Manager Dennis Cushman says the water can be tapped when supplies get tight.

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We are very focused on keeping as much water in storage as possible for use either later this year when the weather is warmer or keep it in storage for next year or a subsequent year.

He says it's part of an effort to diversify the county's water sources. Cushman says other strategies include water recycling and creating more local storage. He says an 11-mile pipeline project will connect the San Vicente Reservoir to the Water Authority's Second Aqueduct west of Interstate 15. He says when the pipeline is finished in two years it'll provide a backup source in case imported water deliveries are interrupted. 

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.