(CN) — California issued a new set of emergency water restrictions, including a ban on businesses watering purely ornamental lawns, to conserve water in the state's effort to cope with a yearslong drought.
“California is facing a drought crisis and every local water agency and Californian needs to step up on conservation efforts," Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement Tuesday. "I am hopeful the measures enacted by the State Water Board will lead to a reduction of water use across the state. These conservation measures are increasingly important as we enter the summer months. I’m asking all Californians to step up, because every single drop counts.”
The State Water Resources Control Board approved a statewide ban on watering of nonfunctional turf in the commercial, industrial and institutional sectors, according to the governor's statement. Nonfunctional turf is defined as lawns that are ornamental and not otherwise used for human recreation such as school fields, sports fields and parks. The ban doesn't apply to residential yards.
The water board also approved regulations requiring local agencies to implement water use restrictions based on the possibility that water supplies may be up to 20% lower due to extreme weather. The new regulations will go into effect on June 10.
Newsom met Monday with leaders from California’s largest urban water suppliers and associations to discuss aggressive actions to combat drought.
The western United States is experiencing one of the most extensive droughts on record, a symptom of the climate change crisis. According to the California Department of Water Resources, January through March were the driest first three months in recorded state history. The largest reservoirs are at half of their historical averages, and the state’s snowpack stands at just 14% of average. The 2021 water year has so far been one of the most devastating and meteorologists across the state have reported lower rainfall than is needed to fill reservoirs.
Local water agencies have pushed for greater flexibility on water conservation and drought response, arguing for local approaches based on regional needs and water supplies. Currently, about half of the state’s population is under local water use restrictions.
Newsom called for a voluntary water use reduction of 15% from all Californians a year ago. In March this year, the data showed the state failed to meet this goal and Newsom issued an executive order calling on local water agencies to escalate responses to the ongoing drought.
California invested $5.2 billion for three years of statewide drought response and water resilience strategies in the California Comeback Plan for 2021. This year, Newsom has proposed an additional $2 billion for drought response, with $100 million in addition to a previous investment of $16 million for statewide education on drought.
The state is also using the Water Resilience Portfolio with more than 142 separate actions for state agencies to take to ensure that California’s water systems can cope with spiking temperatures, shrinking snowpack, rising sea levels and more intense and frequent periods of drought.
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