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Long Beach officials criticize Metropolitan’s shortage allocation plan; a lawsuit is possible

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 15, 2008 at 7:56 am

From the Long Beach Press-Telegram:

A water allocation plan approved this week by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California shortchanges Long Beach and some neighboring communities, city leaders say.

If implemented, the allocation plan, which is the first of its kind designed by the MWD in case of drought, could cost Long Beach $10 million to $15 million in penalties, driving up local water rates by 22 percent, according to Mayor Bob Foster.

Long Beach Water Department officials said they might sue the MWD, and Foster said he couldn’t rule out legal action.

The mayor said the plan doesn’t allocate water using preferential rights, which is based on cities’ past contributions other than water purchases to the MWD, as set forth by state legislation. “This is not about supply,” Foster said. “Every member of the Met’s going to get the water they need. It’s about money. It’s an attempt to change a historic formula that’s been embedded a long time.”

Jeff Kightlinger, general manager of the MWD, said “preferential rights” have never been used and that the allocation plan spreads the water cuts “as evenly as possible” among all the member agencies.

“Long Beach would not be shouldering more of a burden than other cities under this plan,” Kightlinger said.

Get more on this story from the Press-Telegram by clicking here.

February 15, 2008 · Filed Under Long Beach Water Department, Metropolitan Water District, Water Agency News (all)