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Water Conservation Critical During Delta Shutdown, Officials Say

Local water officials want us to increase our conservation. The need is more acute because of the temporary shutdown of the state water project in the Sacramento Delta. The Delta supplies more than tw

Water Conservation Critical During Delta Shutdown, Officials Say

Local water officials want us to increase our conservation. The need is more acute because of the temporary shutdown of the state water project in the Sacramento Delta. The Delta supplies more than two-thirds of Southern California's water supply. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has more.

A pumping plant in the Delta is shut down for up to 10 days to protect threatened Delta smelt. During the shutdown, San Diego will be drawing down water in reservoirs for daily use. That reservoir water is even more precious since the region is in the midst of a dry spell.

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Bill Jacoby with the San Diego County Water Authority says it's time to step up the water conservation.

Jacoby: Every bit of water we save this year means more water stored in our local and statewide reservoirs for next year. This is something we can all do right now to help us and the entire state get through this period of difficulty of moving water through the Delta.

More than 41 percent of the water used in San Diego last year was imported from the Delta. Jacoby says the water authority already has a plan in case the prolonged dry spell extends into next year.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.