State of California to release per-capita water use numbers

State officials will release data showing how much water Californians are using as they face calls to conserve in the third year of a drought.

The State Water Resources Control Board is requiring agencies to report per-person residential water use numbers for the first time.

The per-capita data will be released at the board’s Tuesday meeting.

Cities and water agencies have already been reporting total monthly water use compared to 2013.

It’s easier for cities that have lacked meters and guzzled water to show conservation gains using that measure.

Per-capita data shows which communities have more and less room to conserve.

Board officials say water use ranges widely from 50 to 500 gallons per-person, per-day.

The board may impose additional restrictions if Californians don’t cut back on their water use.