Californians are still making strides to save water. State regulators say water users conserved 24 percent in March. That’s double the previous month’s savings, but just shy of Governor Jerry Brown’s 25 percent water conservation goal.
Since June of last year, when mandatory water conservation regulations took effect, Californians have saved just under 24 percent.
The state water board is expected to revise conservation rules at its meeting on May 18th. Many water agencies have urged the board to relax or eliminate the conservation regulations.
Original Post: (AP) - Californians will learn how much water they saved by taking shorter showers and turning off sprinklers in the rain-soaked month of March.
The State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday will release its most recent conservation report. March is the first month under relaxed requirements.
Residents are being asked to use at least 20 percent less water than they did in 2013. That's down from the 25 percent reduction begun last year.
Max Gomberg, a senior climate scientist for the state water board, says the March savings are encouraging.
Water regulators, meanwhile, are busy writing new regulations to save water since winter rain and snow has eased drought.
Many local water districts say they want to set their own conservation targets. Other say the state should drop the emergency orders.
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