California board imposes emergency water-use restrictions

California’s state water board on Tuesday approved emergency drought regulations that aim to slash water use in urban areas.

The measures call for cities and water agencies to reduce water usage by amounts ranging from 8% to 36%. The State Water Resources Control Board drew up the rules to meet Gov. Jerry Brown’s order for a 25% cut in urban water use statewide.

It’s the first time that Califor- nia has ever put in place mandatory reductions in water use. The plan reflects just how bleak the state’s water picture has become. Groundwater levels have plummeted across much of California.

Felicia Marcus, chair of the water board, called the cutbacks “a collective issue that we all need to rise to in this time of emergency.”

According to the latest figures released by the board, Californians reduced water use by just 3.6% in March as compared to the same month in 2013. That was a slight change from a 2.8% reduction in February, and sig- nificantly less than a 22% drop in December and a 7.3% reduction in January.

Max Gomberg, a senior environmental scientist with the state water board, called the new mandatory measures a “desperate times approach.”

The state water board will have the authority to issue fines of up to $10,000 against cities or water districts that don’t reach their targets and that violate state orders.

Under the regulations approved by the board Tuesday night, water agencies will have discretion in determining how they achieve their overall reduction targets. They will be able to choose, for instance, how much of the cutbacks are borne by commercial and industrial customers as well as by domestic customers.

The regulations exclude the vast majority of farms in California. They also don’t touch the use of recycled water. But properties such as golf courses that rely on water pumped from private wells are to be required to use 25% less water or limit watering to two days a week.

New rules a “desperate times approach.”

Max Gomberg, senior environmental scientist with the state water board