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  • Environment
  • State Government
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Water Conservation Continues Downward Slide

  •  Amy Quinton 
Tuesday, February 2, 2016 | Sacramento, CA
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Richard Vogel / File / AP

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2014, file photo, morning traffic makes its way toward downtown Los Angeles along the Hollywood Freewaympast an electronic sign warning of severe drought.

Richard Vogel / File / AP

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.

 0202AQ_DECWA

 

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.


Note: The number for the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency is the average percentage between the city of Woodland and the City of Davis Source: California State Water Resources Control Board

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 droughtwater resourcesstate water resources control boardwater conservationWater Supplyconservation rate

Amy Quinton

Former Environment Reporter

Amy came to Sacramento from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) where she was Environment Reporter. Amy has also reported for NPR member stations WFAE in Charlotte, WAMU in Washington D.C. and American Public Media's "Marketplace."  Read Full Bio 

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