SAN DIEGO -- San Diego County residents have at least a few more weeks before mandatory water rationing is approved in the drought-stricken region, it was reported.

The San Diego County Water Authority board voted to reject a staff recommendation Thursday night to move the region from level one and voluntary conservation on its four-stage drought index to level two and mandatory conservation, The North County Times reported.

Board members said they'd rather wait until major supplier Metropolitan Water District decides April 14 whether to cut the amount of water it allocates to the county, according to the Times.

The Metropolitan Water District said earlier this year it may cut the region's allocation by as much as 20 percent.

The county water board is scheduled to meet next April 23 and will revisit the staff recommendation then, the newspaper reported.