Governor says drought demands long-term conservation standards

On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown declared the need for a long-term conservation strategy as drought conditions persist in many areas of the state, including Riverside County.

“Californians stepped up during this drought and saved more water than ever before,” Brown said. “But now we know that drought is becoming a regular occurrence and water conservation must be a part of our everyday life.”

Coachella Valley Water District General Manager Jim Barret released the following statement on Monday: “CVWD and its customers have worked hard to try to meet the state’s conservation mandate. More than $6 million has been invested in conservation programs and residents have taken advantage of these programs in record numbers to reduce water use. Since June of 2015, customers have reduced use 25% compared to 2013.”

According to CVWD’s release, the regulations based conservation targets on residential gallons per capita per day use and created tiers ranging from 8 to 36 percent reduction. CVWD was assigned a 36% conservation mandate. In February 2016, the targets were adjusted to reflect climate, growth, and new water supplies. CVWD’s target was reduced to 32% at that time.

Officials with the Desert Water Agency said the prohibitions on restaurants serving water on request only, and hotels promoting skipped laundry service, may end with the State Water Board resolution; however they expect that tourism and lifestyle partners in the Coachella Valley will continue to promote efficient water use.

The DWA’s current standards are still in effect until June 1, and the modified standards would be in effect June through January of 2017. Officials ask that all customers continue to strive for 32% savings during the month of May. “The drought is not yet over, nor should we ever be wasteful of our most precious resource – we would like all of our customers to continue to be conscious of their water use,” officials said in the release.

The governor issued a new executive order reinforcing the one he announced on April 1, 2015, which prompted the State Water Resources Control Board to establish a slew of mandates requiring local water agencies to crack down on water wasters and provide incentives to lower consumption.

Between June 2015 and last March, the state reduced water use by 23.9 percent — saving 1.3 million acre-feet of water — compared to 2013 in response to the new regulations, according to the governor’s office.

In Riverside County, most agencies have slashed usage but have missed conservation targets set by the state. Several agencies, including the Perris-based Eastern Municipal Water District and Riverside Public Utilities, have characterized the targets as unrealistic and have highlighted the success of local conservation programs in place well before the state mandates were imposed.

The governor’s original executive order was slated to expire at the end of February, but he extended it to Oct. 31, based on concerns seasonal rainfall would not meet expectations, even with the El Nino phenomenon.

State officials acknowledged Monday that the Sierra snowpack has improved but there wasn’t sufficient precipitation over the last five months to end what’s now a five-year drought. Brown’s new executive order retains previous conservation requirements, such as limitations on outdoor watering, and puts the following in effect:

Local water suppliers must report monthly usage rates indefinitely
The State Water Resources Control Board will adjust emergency water
restrictions as warranted to the end of January 2017
If the drought persists beyond January, new proposed emergency
restrictions will be developed
The board and Department of Water Resources will take steps to
minimize leaks in water delivery systems statewide, saving a potential 700,000
acre-feet of water annually
The DWR will work with stakeholders to create “water shortage
contingency plans” to help localities cope with droughts lasting at least five
years
The DWR will update agricultural water management plans to better measure irrigation activities

All of the provisions dovetail with the governor’s “Water Action Plan,” which he submitted in January 2015 as a “roadmap to put California on a path to sustainable water management.”