Southern California water suppliers are bracing for a possible sixth year of drought. It’s a new ‘water year’ that began this month and officials will outline their plans Monday to meet the region’s water needs. Although the region’s water-saving efforts and last winter’s rain and snow in Northern California helped improve local stored reserves, extreme drought persists in much of the region. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is maintaining a Water Supply Alert calling for continued awareness and reinforced conservation throughout the district’s 5,200-square-mile service area.