SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Californians won't be able to water their lawns for 48 hours after rainstorms or let their sprinkles run onto the sidewalk under new mandatory water restrictions.
The rules adopted Tuesday by the State Water Resources Control Board are designed to spur conservation. Those who don't comply could face a $500 fine, though regulators stressed that's not the intention. Enforcement will be left to local officials.
"We suggest a much lower maximum fine for low income households and nothing higher than $50," Nataly Escobedo Garcia, water policy coordinator at Leadership Counsel, said.
Regulators say they plan to take an educational approach before fining people. The board also discussed payment plans and requested not shutting off power to low income households.
"The tendency was for enforcement to be more compliance assistance. They would leave things like hangers with information on how to save water," Eric Oppenheimer, Chief Deputy Director for the State Water Board, said.
The rules come as the state falls short of Gov. Gavin Newsom's goal for a 15% decrease in water use. However, there was some positive news. November 2021 saw a reduction in water use by 22% compared to the previous year.
They follow an extremely wet December that's good news for the state's ongoing drought. But water officials say there's no guarantee the heavy precipitation will continue through the winter.
Amy Talbot, Water Efficiency Project Manager for the Alliance for Water Efficiency, says conservation isn't like a light switch that can be turned on and off.
"Our conservation numbers have doubled over the last couple of months, ramping up to this moment," Talbot said.
Read the full AP story here.
