June 02--Californians used 13.5% less water in April compared to the same month in 2013 in response to Gov. Jerry Brown's historic executive order requiring increased conservation in the fourth year of drought, the State Water Resources Board reported Tuesday.
The decline in water use comes as local water officials statewide have scrambled to implement new watering restrictions aimed at achieving the 25% urban water-use reduction Brown ordered on April 1.
Although Californians conserved far more in April than in the three previous months, the data released Tuesday also showed that the state has a long way to go before it meets Brown's target. Cumulative water savings since summer totaled only 9% compared with the same 11-month period in 2013, the board said.
The new conservation figures come as California water agencies try to figure out how to slash water consumption even further during the hot, dry summer months ahead. Water board officials have stressed the need to reduce outdoor water usage.
The water board spent much of April developing a push to implement Brown's water-saving plan and increase conservation. The plan, as approved last month, assigns conservation targets to each of the state's water suppliers and requires cuts in consumption ranging from 8% to 36% compared with 2013 levels.
The level of water savings each district must attain is based on residential per capita use in July, August and September of 2014. Cities and water districts with the lowest consumption during that period have to cut the least. Heavy users have to cut the most.
Many water suppliers have been relying on education and outreach to help eliminate water waste. But in some cases, regulators have hired more water "cops," installed smart meters and taken other action to enforce water rules.
Along with its conservation report, the board is also scheduled to release more data Tuesday on how often local water regulators are citing and fining water wasters.
