California Adopts Emergency Water Restrictions to Boost Drought Resilience after Voluntary Conservation Efforts Fall Short

This week, the California State Water Board announced emergency water use regulations to boost drought resilience. The new regulations follow an executive order issued in July and a proclamation made in October by Governor Newsom. In July, he called for a voluntary 15 percent reduction in water usage, followed in October by him urging Californians to redouble conservation efforts after water use fell by just 5 percent in August. Between July and November in total the state’s water usage went down only 6 percent, precipitating the mandatory restrictions.

The specific water uses not allowed under the new regulations include outdoor watering that results in excessive runoff into streets and sidewalks; using water for landscaping and irrigation during the 48 hours after storms; washing cars with hoses lacking shut-off nozzles; using potable water to wash driveways, sidewalks, buildings and patios; and using water for street cleaning or to fill decorative fountains or lakes. The restrictions will remain in place for one year, unless extended modified or revoked, according to the State Water Board.

“Climate change is challenging us to build drought resilience in our water infrastructure and management practices and at an individual level in our daily habits,” said E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Board. “Prohibiting wasteful water practices increases awareness of water as a precious resource no matter what type of weather we are experiencing in a given moment, because weather extremes are now part of our climate reality.” Read the full press release from the State Water Board and read a relevant news article here.