LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order to make many statewide temporary conservation measures permanent, saying that El Niño rainfall hasn't solved the state's drought problems.
Monday's order establishes long-term water conservation measures, including permanent monthly water use reporting, new permanent water use standards in California communities and bans on clearly wasteful practices such as hosing off sidewalks, driveways and other hardscapes.
"Californians stepped up during this drought and saved more water than ever before," Brown said in a prepared statement. "But now we know that drought is becoming a regular occurrence and water conservation must be part of our everyday life."
Brown's orders do bring an end to mandatory urban water cuts imposed in June, which required average statewide savings of 25%, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Instead, the State Water Board will adjust emergency water conservation regulations through the end of January 2017, in recognition of the differing water supply conditions across the state, according to Brown's press release.
Between June 2015 and March 2016, Californians reduced water use by 23.9% compared with the same months in 2013 – saving enough water to provide 6.5 million Californians with water for one year, according to the Brown administration.
While the severity of the drought has lessened in some parts of California after winter rains and snow, the current drought is not over, Brown said.
For the fifth consecutive year, dry conditions persist in many areas, with limited drinking water supplies in some communities, diminished water for agricultural production and environmental habitat, and severely depleted groundwater basins. The executive order calls for long-term improvements to local drought preparation across the state, and directs the State Resources Council Board to develop proposed emergency water restrictions for 2017 if the drought persists.
California droughts are expected to be more frequent and persistent, as warmer winter temperatures driven by climate change reduce water held in the Sierra Nevada snowpack and result in drier soil conditions, Brown said. Recognizing these new conditions, the executive order directs permanent changes to use water more wisely and efficiently, and prepare for more frequent, persistent periods of limited supply.
These new actions will help achieve a top priority in the Governor's Water Action Plan to make conservation a California way of life, he said.
The administration will seek public input in the coming months on new water more wisely and efficiently, and prepare for more frequent, persistent periods of limited supply.
