What's Happening and Why California Governor Calls for Aggressive Water Conservation
R. Gelfenstein, Gov. Gavin Newsom met Monday with leaders of the state's largest urban water providers and implored them to step up their efforts to get people to reduce their water consumption as California's drought continues to deepen. He warned that if conservation efforts don't improve this summer, the state could be forced to impose mandatory water restrictions.
Ten months ago, Newsom urged Californians to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 15 percent, but the state is still far from reaching that goal.
"All state water agencies must take more aggressive steps to communicate the urgency of drought and implement conservation measures," Newsom said in a statement. "California has made significant changes since the last drought, but we've seen an increase in water consumption, especially as we approach the summer months. We all need to be very careful to make sure every drop counts."
The severe drought, now in its third year in California, is one of the most extreme on record and has been exacerbated by rising temperatures due to global warming. The first three months of the year were the driest on record. The state's largest reservoirs are now at a mid-level.
Newsom issued an executive order in March urging local water agencies to implement more aggressive conservation measures. Following the ordinance, the National Water Resources Control Board will vote Tuesday on an emergency regulation that requires local water providers to activate "Level 2" of their local contingency plans to prepare for a potential shortage. Reach 20%.
The regulation also includes a statewide ban on the use of drinking water to irrigate "non-functional" gardens on commercial, industrial and institutional properties, including homeowners and trade associations.
External links
Newsom urges more aggressive water conservation amid drought - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
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