17 California communities could run out of water

Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — California officials say 17 rural communities in the drought-stricken state are in danger of running out of water within 60 to 120 days.

The San Jose Mercury News reported Tuesday (http://bit.ly/LmgFL2 ) that the threatened water systems serve from 39 to 11,000 residents.

They range from the tiny Lompico County Water District in Santa Cruz County to districts that serve the cities of Healdsburg and Cloverdale in Sonoma County.

The newspaper says most of the affected water districts have so few customers they can't charge enough to pay for backup water supplies or repair failing equipment.

Officials will discuss solutions like trucking water in or digging more wells.

The state health department compiled the list after surveying the more than 3,000 water agencies last week. The list will be updated weekly.

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Information from: San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, http://www.mercurynews.com