Editorial: Mandate water conservation rules in California — now
What is Gov. Gavin Newsom waiting for?
California is experiencing historically horrific drought conditions. The past three years are on pace to be hotter and drier than conditions during the peak of California’s 2013-15 drought, considered the most severe in state history dating back to 1850. And Californians learned Tuesday they are failing miserably at meeting the state’s voluntary conservation goals.
The situation calls for the governor to impose mandatory water conservation rules. Now. Before reservoirs drop any lower. The mandate should include fines and penalties for cities and water districts that fail to comply.
It’s been eight months since Newsom declared a drought emergency and asked Californians to cut water use 15% compared with 2020 levels.
He added new rules in January that included restrictions on washing cars with hoses lacking shut-off nozzles, outdoor watering that results in excessive runoff into the street and sidewalks, and using water for landscaping and irrigation 48 hours after measurable rainfall.
But in that same month, Californians responded by increasing their water use 2.6% compared with January 2020, according to State Water Resources Control Board data.
For the months of July 2021 through January 2022, the state’s urban water users reduced their consumption by only 6.4%. Bay Area residents collectively reduced their use by 11%. The North Coast area came close to meeting the governor’s goal (-14.9%). They easily outperformed South Coast (Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties) residents, who cut their use by only 5.1%.
Newsom announced on Monday that he is allotting $8 million in new state funding for a public-outreach campaign to boost conservation — as if Californians didn’t already know we are in the thralls of a serious drought.
The governor must acknowledge that his voluntary rules aren’t working. Hoping and praying that Californians will start conserving more water this spring and summer isn’t a strategy. Neither is waiting to see if the next rainy season ends the drought.
We can’t keep pretending this problem will go away. The state will only meet its long-term water needs by fully embracing greater efficiency, recycling, groundwater restoration and additional storage projects that pencil out as cost-effective. In the meantime, we need to start conserving the precious supply that’s left.
Newsom should announce a comprehensive approach to meeting California’s short- and long-term water needs, starting with mandatory conservation rules that include meaningful penalties for violators.
The U.S. Drought Monitor reported last week that 87% of California, including all of the Bay Area, remains in severe drought. The other 13% is in extreme drought. The state’s largest reservoir, Shasta Lake, was only 38% full Tuesday. Our second largest reservoir, Lake Oroville, was 46% full.
This level of drought calls for an immediate response. What is the governor waiting for?