UPDATE: The water conservation rate in California continues to be pretty dismal. The State Water Resources Control Board says the urban conservation rate was just 3.6 in March, up from 2.8 percent in February.
Max Gomberg with the water board says the state saved over 469,000 acre-feet of water over the last nine months.
"This only totals less than nine percent cumulative savings over this time period, and that’s far short of the 20 percent that the Governor called for last year. So we need to do more," says Gomberg.
On average, Californians used 96 gallons per person per day. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power received more than 1,200 water waste complaints. Most suppliers issued 20 or fewer notices for water waste.
The city of Sacramento conserved just 13 percent and used 86 gallons per person per day.
-Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio
6:30 A.M. (AP) - California water regulators are considering sweeping restrictions to enforce Gov. Jerry Brown's drought conservation order.
The State Water Resources Control Board is taking up a proposal Tuesday that would set unprecedented limits and create new regulations to save water.
It follows Brown's executive order to protect water supplies in the fourth year of drought.
Under the rules, cities could not use drinking-quality water for grass on street medians, and homeowners are encouraged to let their lawns go brown to meet their community's mandatory water-reduction target.
The local water targets have drawn the most attention, with some cities blasting them as unrealistic and unfair. They call for cities to cut water consumption by as much as 36 percent compared to 2013.
The regulations would take effect in June if approved.
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