San Diego County Water Authority Board votes to immediately end cutbacks to agencies

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors voted today to immediately end its 8 percent cutback in deliveries to its two dozen member water agencies, citing improved supply conditions from last winter's rains.

''Thanks to a very wet year and outstanding water-saving efforts by our region's residents, businesses and agricultural community, we can put our drought response tools back in the toolbox -- for now,'' said CWA Chairman Michael Hogan. ''But we cannot forget that ensuring a safe and reliable water supply is a long-term challenge here in semi-arid Southern California.''

Hogan said problems remain at the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta, the hub of the State Water Project system, which could lead to future supply cuts.

Full deliveries of water to the local water agencies will begin Friday. Those agencies, in turn, are expected to end most restrictions on individual customers soon.

However, a couple members of the San Diego City Council recently balked at the idea of ending the restrictions to homes and businesses because they didn't want to end what they called positive ''behavior modifications'' among customers.