Nearly two in three Californians call the state’s current four-year drought “extremely serious,” and nearly nine in ten (86 percent) plan to permanently reduce the amount of water they use, even after the drought ends, according to a poll that came out Thursday.
California water regulators could relax statewide conservation rules even as the state enters a likely fifth year of record drought.
The number of penalties issued to water wasters during California’s record drought has decreased as most water agencies have successfully complied with a mandatory order to cut water use by 25 percent statewide. However, the state’s complex water management system has created a scenario in which individuals who have cut back the most are often fined, while rich super-users pay to consume as much water as they want.
California has adapted well to mandatory water conservation rules ordered into effect earlier this year by Gov. Jerry Brown–and water officials now say that some of those rules may be implemented permanently.
Four water suppliers in California, including the city of Beverly Hills, have failed to chip in to statewide water conservation efforts and have been fined as a result.
California residents slashed water use by 31.3 percent in July, well ahead of Gov. Jerry Brown’s mandatory order for a 25 percent statewide reduction by February.
One California man is going well beyond skipping showers to battle the state’s record four-year drought.
Electronic music pioneer Moby is asking drought-exhausted Californians to skip dozens of showers every time they want to eat a hamburger.
Californians saved 13.9 percent more water in April as compared with the same month in 2013, a significant improvement over the last several months’ dismal conservation numbers.
The California State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve new water regulations mandating a 25% reduction in statewide water use.
California water regulators adopted sweeping, unprecedented restrictions Tuesday on how people, governments and businesses can use water amid the state’s ongoing drought.
