MOORPARK : 2 Wells Are Going Dry, Official Says

Two city wells in Moorpark are running dry, demonstrating the need to conserve water because of the statewide drought, Moorpark City Council members were told Wednesday.

The council is considering drafting contingency plans to cut back on water use in the city.

Lorraine Timmons, a water conservation assistant with the Ventura County Resource Management Agency, told the council that the dwindling water supply in the two city wells is not a significant threat to the city’s overall supply. Five city wells furnish about 25% of the city’s water, she said.

The city buys the other 75% from the Calleguas Municipal Water District, which imports state water, Timmons said.

Timmons told council members that measures to restrict water use could be imposed in stages, depending on the amount the state may ask agencies to cut back.

The Metropolitan Water District, which supplies Calleguas with its water, is waiting for the state Department of Water Resources, which ships water south, to issue its yearly rainfall report at the end of March.

While Metropolitan officials have not yet determined how much cities will be asked to cut back, it could range from 5% to 25%, officials said.

Moorpark is one of five cities in the county to begin drafting water conservation measures.