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California's New Water Restrictions to Impact Key Areas
New regulations will require major cuts in water supply for urban areas to ensure long-term conservation
California's State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has approved a new regulation, "Making Conservation a California Way of Life," which mandates urban water suppliers to reduce water delivery over the next 15 years. This move aims to make California more water-resilient and efficient, preventing the need for emergency measures during droughts.
The regulation, pending approval from the Office of Administrative Law (OAL), will come into effect by January 1, 2025. Suppliers must develop water budgets based on community needs, considering residential indoor and outdoor water use, commercial and industrial landscapes, and allowable water loss from leakage. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to $10,000 per day.
The policy targets water suppliers rather than individuals, requiring them to impose restrictions, raise rates, or encourage the use of low-flow appliances. While some areas will face minimal cuts, others, particularly in the Central Valley, South Coast, and Tulare Lake regions, will see significant reductions. By 2040, certain suppliers like the City of Vernon and the City of Atwater will need to cut water delivery by up to 92% and 58%, respectively.
The SWRCB anticipates that the regulation will save about 500,000 acre-feet of water annually by 2040, enough to supply over 1.4 million households for a year. However, some experts, like Richard M. Frank from the University of California, believe the measures should be implemented more rapidly to address the state's urgent water needs.
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