Water conservation by urban areas in California fell again in February to the lowest level since cuts became mandatory last year.
The state Water Board announced Monday that Californians cut water use by 12 percent from the same time in 2013. The board noted dry conditions and relatively low water use two years ago made hitting the goal more difficult.
Over the past nine months, Californians conserved 24 percent—just shy of the governor’s mandatory 25 percent goal.
Water Board chair Felicia Marcus says the state needs to continue to save.
"This may be all we’ve got," Marcus says. "So we’re going to continue to hope, but we need to plan realistically for the future, and whatever we do, we’re still going to need everyone to treat water respectfully."
The water board will consider over the next month how to adjust conservation rates and account for rainfall that reached northern parts of the state, but not Southern California.
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