EBMUD calls on customers to ‘tighten water belts’ as drought concerns grow

The East Bay Municipal Utility District officially declared a stage one drought Tuesday and is asking customers to cut water use by 10 percent after California experienced its driest winter since 1977.

“This is very prudent as a first step in getting us on drought defense footing, if you will, and still keeps many other options open as we go down the road,” said Doug Linney, the president of EBMUD’s board of directors. “Hope for rain but plan for the worst.”