SHORT TAKES:Officials request residents cut back on water use

Southern California water officials are asking residents to voluntarily cut back their water use for the next year to avert future shortages. After a record dry year and droughts in some areas, “We’re trying to draw people’s attention to the serious nature of what we’re facing,” Metropolitan Water District of Southern California spokesman Bob Muir said. The district provides imported water to a number of area water agencies, including Newport-Mesa’s main supplier, the Municipal Water District of Orange County.

The goal is to conserve about 10% of the water that people would normally use. The district announced the voluntary conservation effort and $6.3 million education and incentive campaign in June, and last week its board voted to add to the list of rebates available for installing water-efficient appliances.

For information on the conservation and incentive program, visit www.bewaterwise.com and click on “rebates.”

— Alicia Robinson