Roundup: Emergency declared for U.S. Southern California amid unprecedented drought

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Preparing for a fourth consecutive dry year amid extreme drought conditions, the largest supplier of treated water in the United States has declared a regional drought emergency for all of Southern California.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California called upon water agencies in the region to immediately reduce their use of all imported supplies in a news release on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a state-established cooperative that, along with its 26 cities and retail suppliers, provides water for 19 million people in six counties, including Los Angeles, the nation's most populous county.