Extreme drought and a bleak water supply forecast could force a lawn watering ban in Southern California by September if residents don’t cut their water use quickly, regional water authorities say.
The drought is so severe, state water officials hope drastic water conservation measures will become more widespread to shore up a dwindling drinking and irrigation water supply.
“Droughts used to be slower-moving disasters. With the changing climate, they’re becoming much faster-moving disasters,” Brad Coffey, water resource manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, said Thursday.
The district, which provides water to 6 million people in the Los ...