California American Water Reminds San Diego County Customers to Continue Water Saving Practices Despite Improved Water Reserve Conditions

California American Water is encouraging all of its San Diego County customers to continue their wise water practices given the recent declaration by Governor Brown that the state’s drought has ended and local water allocations have been lifted by the San Diego County Water Authority. Both actions were made possible by this seasons storms and the publics continued conservation and water use efficiency efforts resulting in improved regional supply conditions. In addition, the city of San Diego, California American Water’s wholesaler has ended mandatory water restrictions that took effect in 2009.

"Despite the recent actions of the Governor, the SDCWA and the city of San Diego, wise water use must be a permanent way of life for our San Diego County customers because of the challenges we face in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,” said Patrick Pilz, California American Water’s manager of conservation and efficiencies. "California American Water would like to thank our San Diego County customers for their water-saving efforts and helping meet the region’s reduced water allocation goals.”

Three weeks after Governor Brown announced the end to California’s recent drought, SDCWA, the regions largest imported water provider, ended its call for mandatory water restrictions. SDCWA lifting of the allocation restrictions will restore full urban water deliveries to its 24-member retail water agencies, including the city of San Diego, which had been required to comply with a regional 8-percent supply cut since July 2009. The SDCWA action also restores full agricultural water deliveries by the Water Authority which had been cut 13 percent for some agricultural customers since July 2009.

Supply conditions have improved significantly in 2011 statewide. California snowpack conditions were nearly 80 percent above normal as of April 24, and the state Department of Water Resources recently announced the State Water Project will make 80 percent of its requested deliveries this year – up from 50 percent last year, 40 percent in 2009 and 35 percent in 2008. Many key storage reservoirs around the state are nearing their capacity.

"The State and Southern California in particular continue to face long term water supply challenges. We encourage our customers to continue wise water use in order to meet these ongoing challenges and to maintain our reserves,” Pilz said. "California American Water has made it a priority to help its customers reduce their water use by providing them with the necessary resources to help them save money on their water bill and protect the environment.”

Some simple suggestions to conserve water include:

• Water before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. to prevent water evaporation and no more than two days a week during the summer months.
• Limit watering to 15 minutes outdoors each day per station.
• Turn off decorative water features unless they re-circulate water.
• Repair water leaks immediately.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to wash down paved surfaces.

California American Water offers free WaterWise residential and non-residential surveys, rebates on water-saving appliances, leak detection kits for toilets and other conservation tools and ideas. California American Water customers can sign up for these services by stopping by its local office located at 1019 Cherry Avenue, Imperial Beach, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., or by calling (619) 435-7515.

California American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 600,000 people. California American Water’s San Diego County service district includes approximately 21,000 households and businesses and serves a population of about 95,000 people in the cities of Coronado, Imperial Beach, south Chula Vista, and parts of south San Diego.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

In 2011, American Water is celebrating its 125^th anniversary with a year long campaign to promote water efficiency and the importance of protecting water from source to tap. To learn more, visit www.amwater125.com.