A ration of reality

Add Santa Clara Water District to the growing list of Delta water users considering mandatory conservation during what could turn out to be the third driest year in more than a century.

If the water supply doesn't substantially improve before March 24, the East Bay water district says it will enforce a reduction of water use in the neighborhood of 10 to 20 percent.

Right now the call is for a 10 percent voluntary reduction, but all signs point to the stricture becoming mandatory.

One unanswered question to ponder: If an environmentally conscious individual already reduces water use by 10 or 20 percent voluntarily, is it unfair to ask that individual to reduce use another 10 or 20 percent manditorily?