California says water use fell by 27 percent in June

Despite record-breaking heat throughout much of the state in June, Californians continued to conserve water, reducing water use by 27.3 percent, exceeding by 2.3 percentage points what the governor had ordered, the State Water Resources Control Board says Thursday.

Forty-six percent of California is under exceptional drought, the most severe of the U.S. Drought Monitor’s four categories used to measure drought severity.

“We’re looking forward to a conversation about the numbers that they’re asking us to achieve”, Soulliere said. Brown’s order is in effect through February, and the amount of water saved in June is about 15 percent of the statewide savings goal needed by early next year. By contrast, conservation hit just 14 percent in April and 4 percent in March.

Residents of Southern California reduced water use by 23 percent in June, as compared to the same month in 2013, the board reported.

With the emergency drought regulations allowing suppliers with high industrial and commercial users to apply for an exception, Helliker said his district has corresponded with the state water board about working out an alternative conservation plan.

Tops among the region’s water savers were the oft-criticized customers in the Santa Fe Irrigation District, who cut back by 37 percent over June 2013.

San Francisco says it saved 20 percent, more than double its target. The water board’s report reflected previously announced reductions claimed by Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco – California’s largest cities – and other districts serving 27 million of the state’s almost 40 million people. “But it is Russian roulette until it happens”. Still more, 65 percent, said the state should make its own policies separately from those developed by the federal government.

The results followed a strong May in which California residents reduced consumption by 29 percent. Amy McNulty, water efficiency manager with the Irvine Ranch Water District, said the district has extended its turf-removal rebate program to continue encouraging customers to replace their lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping. For example, despite a recent media focus on how much water they use, almond growers using advanced production practices have helped improve their water efficiency by 33 percent for every pound of almonds grown today.

The water board will track compliance on both a monthly and rolling basis over the next nine months. (An acre foot of water equals 326,000 gallons).

Water waste enforcement also shot up drastically in June, with agencies issuing more than 9,500 penalties compared to about 1,900 in May.

“Conservation is nothing new to agriculture”, she said. Democrats were more likely than independents and Republicans to call the threat very serious.