Newsweek - California Imposes Permanent Water Restrictions on Cities and Towns
“Many of the necessary conservation measures could and should be implemented more rapidly.”
Badwater Basin, home to Lake Manly, is viewed on a 100 F spring day as people walk on the salt flats around what's left of the lake on April 23, 2024, near Furnace Creek, California. The state is asking large water suppliers to cut delivery to consumers by as much as 39% by 2040, in an effort to become more drought-resilient. | GEORGE ROSE/GETTY IMAGES
This recent article from Newsweek reports on California's historic decision to impose permanent water restrictions on its cities and towns to address ongoing drought and water conservation challenges. The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) approved regulations that require the state’s largest water utilities to reduce water provision over the next 15 years. This move aims to prevent future water shortages by making conservation a permanent practice, rather than a temporary emergency measure.
The new regulation, effective January 1, 2025, mandates suppliers to create water budgets based on community needs, including residential and institutional water use and leakage allowances. Urban water suppliers must comply with these water use objectives, which could result in a 40% reduction in water delivery. Non-compliance could lead to fines of up to $10,000 per day. These efforts are expected to save about 500,000 acre-feet of water annually by 2040, equivalent to the water needs of over 1.4 million households.
The impact of these restrictions will vary across California, with some areas facing more significant cuts than others. For instance, the Desert Water Agency in Palm Springs must reduce water supply by 32%, while the City of Redding will see the highest cuts at 39% by 2040.
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Click here to read the article at Newsweek
“Today is an exciting and historic moment for California because we have now formalized water conservation as a way of life.”