Statement by Metropolitan Water District General Manager Jeff Kightlinger in Response...

Statement by Metropolitan Water District General Manager Jeff Kightlinger in Response to the Federal District Court's Draft Order on Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Operations

LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--"The draft order appears to be consistent with previous statements
by the court on how it intended to establish new limits on Delta water
operations. The concerns by the court reflect the serious situation in
the Delta and the need to find ways to better separate the movement of
water supplies from natural flow patterns in the estuary. Metropolitan
continues to push for a comprehensive fix in the Delta to create a
healthier ecosystem and to provide for a reliable, safe water supply.
A fix that is in the interest of the state's economy and this vital
ecosystem is possible.

"As for water supplies, this single court case changes the water
situation for Metropolitan. No longer can Metropolitan expect to add
to reserves in its storage systems in an average rain year. Now
Southern California residents will have to increase conservation,
along with other measures, in order for Metropolitan to balance
supplies and demands in an average year."

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.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Bob Muir, 213-324-5213, mobile

Copyright Business Wire 2007