Southern California Edison will ask state officials for permission to put off Stage 3 water rationing. The utility company is asking for the delay in expectation of winter rains and in anticipation that the Catalina’s new desalination unit will go online in November.
“Southern California Edison will be asking the California Public Utilities Commission for permission not to implement 50 percent water rationing, also known as Stage 3,” according to Ron Hite, Southern California Edison district manager for Catalina.
Southern California Edison will ask state officials for permission to put off Stage 3 water rationing. The utility company is asking for the delay in expectation of winter rains and in anticipation that the Catalina’s new desalination unit will go online in November.
“Southern California Edison will be asking the California Public Utilities Commission for permission not to implement 50 percent water rationing, also known as Stage 3,” according to Ron Hite, Southern California Edison district manager for Catalina.
The Island is currently under State 2 rationing, which requires residents and businesses to reduce water consumption by 25 percent. Under rules imposed by the Public Utilities Commission, Stage 3 rationing becomes mandatory when the water level drops below 200 acre feet.
As of Thursday, Oct. 15, the water level at Thompson Reservoir measured 215 acre feet.
“SCE is asking for the postponement because the additional water the new desalination plant will provide, along with the rain forecasted for the winter, will delay and potentially avert the need for 50 percent water rationing. The new plant is expected to be operational in mid- to late November,” according to Hite.
The desalination unit he referred to was delivered to Catalina in late August. As previously reported, the unit could increase the capacity of the Island’s existing desalination plant, possibly by more than 200,000 gallons of water a day.
Jesus A. Ruiz contributed to this story.