The State : Rationing of Water Ordered

Water rationing will be imposed on 1.1 million households in the east San Francisco Bay Area as a result of drought conditions, officials have announced. East Bay Municipal Water District officials said residents in much of Contra Costa and Alameda counties, beginning next month, will have to cut back water usage by 25% or have their rates increased. The largest impact will likely be felt in hotter, inland regions where people may see their yards dry up, a district spokesman said. By a vote of the district board, immediate cutbacks are required on washing cars, filling new swimming pools and decorative water fountains. Although the spate of storms in California recently has brought some rain to the Bay Area, the spokesman said another 20 inches is needed to fill regional reservoirs.