Water Conservation Continues Downward Slide

Californians used 18 percent less water in December than the same month in 2013, but water regulators say the state is still reaching the long-term 25 percent savings goal set by Governor Jerry Brown.

Californians conserved 20 percent in November and the downward trend in conservation has some regulators concerned.

“While the recent rains and growing snowpack are wonderful to behold, we won’t know until spring what effect it will have on the bottom line for California’s unprecedented drought,” says Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. “Until we can tally that ledger, we have to keep conserving water every way we can.”

The average water used per person per day dropped to 67 gallons in December, which was the second lowest rate since reporting began in June of 2014.

Brown ordered the statewide cutback during the state's fourth year of drought. El Niño storms have drenched California this winter, but water regulators say reservoirs remain low.