Californians increase water usage amid drought
July 16, 2014
Amid the worst drought to hit California in decades, Californians have increased their water usage.
In January, Gov. Jerry Brown asked Californians to slash their water use by 20 percent. Nevertheless, a California Water Resources Board report shows a 1 percent statewide increase in water usage in May, compared to the average amount of water usage in May over the past three years.
While most regions used less water, the heavily populated region that includes San Diego, Riverside and Los Angles, increased water usage by 8 percent. In the Central Coast region which includes San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, water usage was 10 percent lower for May.
After very few Californians listened to Brown’s plea to conserve water, the State Water Resources Control Board voted 4-0 Tuesday to impose new restrictions on outdoor water use starting Aug. 1 that could result in fines of up to $500 per violation.
The new regulations permit up to $500 a day fines for outdoor watering that runs off from the area of landscaping, using water to clean hard surfaces such as walkways, washing automobiles without shut off nozzle on a hose or using non-recirculated fountains. Indoor water usage will not be affected.
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