Southern California Water Restrictions Lifted After Winter Storms.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has lifted emergency restrictions on water use for over 7 million people after winter storms boosted water supplies. California has been hit by 11 separate “atmospheric rivers” this winter, leading to broad reductions in drought coverage and intensity. While recent storms have allowed the water district to pull back on restrictions, storage reserves have been drawn down, and the region’s other water source, the Colorado River, still faces significant challenges. The state still faces an acute groundwater shortage, which many of California’s rural communities rely on.