SACRAMENTO >> Even though local water agencies will be setting their own conservation rates, the State Water Resources Control Board on Monday reported that in April the state exceeded the 20 percent reduction target that had been the rule.
The state cut water use 26.1 percent in April, compared to April 2013. Five of the state’s 10 water regions posted savings above 30 percent — including the Sacramento River drainage at 30.5 percent — but the South Coast conservation rate of 22.9 brought the average down.
“Californians continue to demonstrate that they are serious about water conservation, which is fabulous,” said State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus in a press release. “We will be watching closely to make sure that water agencies continue to prioritize the conservation habits their customers have adopted, and don’t fall back into business as usual.”
The water board noted that 60 percent of the state remains in severe drought. Groundwater basins and many reservoirs are badly depleted as the state’s drought grinds into a fifth year.
The new regulations place responsibility on each local water supplier to calculate its own conservation standards for customers based on a “stress test,” which requires them to prove they have sufficient water supplies to withstand three years of continuous drought, or take additional measures that include mandatory conservation targets.
Water suppliers that fail to meet these new conservation standards may still face enforcement from the water board.
