A board committee of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California recommended Monday that the water wholesaler cut deliveries to the 26 cities and water districts it serves by 15% this year. It’s a plan that, if approved by the full board on Tuesday, would mean higher water costs for areas that don’t take significant conservation measures.

The agency’s full board is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the water rationing plan, which would take effect July 1. The board’s vote would mark only the third time in the last 25 years that drought has forced the MWD to reduce deliveries.

Although some committee members pushed for an even steeper reduction in deliveries – 20% – others argued that local water agencies needed time to adjust to the cuts.

“That is going to be a real challenge,” said Don Calkins, of Anaheim, said of the 15% reduction.

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