Local water agencies post new conservation mandates

The State Water Resources Control Board has adopted a new Emergency Regulation for Statewide Urban Water Conservation, which extends and modifies the previous regulation through October.

Officials announced the updated mandate on Wednesday and said it’s due to the agency acknowledging that climate should be factored into conservation standards.

The new statewide conservation standards will affect the mandate placed on water agencies in the Coachella Valley.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 has confirmed that the Desert Water Agency’s conservation standard has been adjusted from 36 percent to 32 percent moving forward.

DWA General Manager Mark Krause said in a statement, “Desert Water Agency asked the State Water Board to make conservation targets more equitable given local circumstances. While DWA does not believe a four percent adjustment reflects the additional water required to serve a community that is 27 percent hotter and drier than the state average, we do appreciate the State Water Board’s action to address local concerns. We will continue to support our customers in saving water as we work together to achieve our community’s new 32 percent mandate.”

The Coachella Valley Water District’s mandatory conservation target will also change from 36% to 32%, beginning March 1.

CVWD General Manager Jim Barrett said, ” [The] Coachella Valley Water District appreciates that the state is recognizing the unique factors affecting various regions. The 4% change to CVWD’s conservation mandate, based on a climate for regions that are the hottest in the state, represents a more fair, equitable and achievable mandate that we are committed to achieve.” Barrett went on to say, “CVWD staff worked with the state and testified on behalf of our customers before the SWRCB to achieve this change and will continue to work with the state in support of future adjustments. CVWD also will continue to work with our customers to help them meet this mandate.”

While the DWA and CVWD have been added to adjustable list, John Soulliere with the Mission Springs Water District is trying to determine why his district was the only one in the valley not included in the four-percent adjustment.

“We believe it’s a mistake or oversight,” said Soulliere. ” We are currently reaching out to our representative at the State Water Board to determine how they overlooked Mission Springs.”

Soulliere said DWA, CVWD, Myoma Dunes and the Indio Water Authority were on the list.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will update our information when we hear back from Soulliere.