Unless the Valley Water board rejects the request for “an endless tax,” voters should reject the agency’s parcel tax measure this fall.

Silicon Valley’s flood protection agency might have prevented the Anderson Dam from overflowing earlier this year, but failed to act.

It’s been two decades since water officials have asked the public to cut back this much on water consumption. But with reservoirs at just a third of capacity and rain a rarity aside from the last couple weeks, the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) is asking residents to dial down water use by 20 percent.