CVWD lowers conservation mandate for water customers

On Tuesday, the Coachella Valley Water District’s Board of Directors approved a change in drought budgets for domestic water customers after the state adjusted its overall conservation target.

CVWD customers were initially asked to limit their outdoor water usage to 36% below their regular use. Beginning March 1, they will only need to limit outdoor water usage to 32% below their normal budget, according to district officials.

The state considers CVWD’s cumulative domestic water use as compared to the same month in 2013 to determine the percentage.

Although the state compares the district’s overall water use to the same month in 2013, officials said CVWD decided it would be unfair to ask customers to adhere to this approach. Instead, CVWD customers must cut back enough to meet their temporary drought budget, an approach that rewards those who have already cut their outdoor water use by allowing grass to go golden or by replacing grass with desert-friendly landscaping, according to the release.

“The 4% change to CVWD’s conservation mandate, based on a climate for regions that are the hottest in the state, represents a more equitable and achievable mandate that we are committed to achieve,” said CVWD General Manager Jim Barrett. “By adjusting our drought budgets for our customers, we are confident that more customers will be able to meet the mandate. We ask customers to keep up the good work and to consider letting grass go golden if they haven’t already.”

Customers who don’t reduce outdoor water usage to 32% below their normal budget will be facing Drought Penalties.

District officials said CVWD’s rolling average conservation number through January is 25.5%, which is what the state uses to judge performance.