SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego County Water Authority Thursday declared a level 2 "Drought Alert" and announced it will cut water deliveries to its member agencies in the region by 8 percent.

The announcement follows a recent decision by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to reduce water supplies to the SDCWA by 13 percent due to ongoing drought conditions and delivery restrictions from Northern California.

The drought declaration will allow the SDCWA's two dozen member agencies to adopt mandatory conservation measures for residents and businesses such as use restrictions, tiered water rates or charging more for excessive use.

"We have reached the point where mandatory conservation by residents, businesses and government agencies is now necessary to help us cope with our water shortage," said SDCWA board chair Claude Lewis.

"We must now achieve a greater level of conservation, and Thursday's move to a drought alert condition gives water agencies throughout the county more tools to achieve greater water savings through their local drought ordinances," Lewis said.

The reduced-water deliveries from the SDCWA will begin July 1.