California’s mandatory water restrictions
This year marks the fourth consecutive year of drought in the state of California. The drought is forcing farmers to leave fields unplanted, damaging wildlife, and causing wildfires to burn four times as many acres as usual. Because of the drought’s severity, California’s Gov. Jerry Brown made an unprecedented move this past Wednesday. For the first time in state history, cities across the entire state of California must implement mandatory restrictions to reduce water in hopes to reduce water usage by 25 percent , which should save 1.5 million acre-feet of water over the next nine months.
So how will California’s mandatory water restrictions affect you and the area you live in? According to NBCLA reporter Christina Cocca, Gov. Jerry Brown’s order will:
- “Replace 50 million square feet of lawns throughout the state with drought tolerant landscaping in partnership with local governments
- Direct the creation of a temporary, statewide consumer rebate program to replace old appliances with more water and energy efficient models
- Require campuses, golf courses, cemeteries and other large landscapes to make significant cuts in water use
- Prohibit new homes and developments from irrigating with potable water unless water-efficient drip irrigation systems are used, and ban watering of ornamental grass on public street medians.” (Cocca, NBCLA)
Other restrictions implemented earlier this month include:
- Prohibiting restaurants from offering water unless customers ask
- Requiring hotels to offer guests a chance to decline fresh towels and sheets
- Prohibiting homeowners to use sprinklers on days when it rains and for the next two days after
Check out the helpful graphic below from the California Environmental Protection Agency, and learn more about California’s mandatory water restrictions here from NBCLA’s Christina Cocca.
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