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California water board approves regulations for drought

By Andrew V. Pestano
People look over remains of the old Gold Rush settlement of Mormon Island which has resurfaced due to the historic low water levels of Folsom Lake, in Folsom, Calif. File Photo by Ken James/UPI
People look over remains of the old Gold Rush settlement of Mormon Island which has resurfaced due to the historic low water levels of Folsom Lake, in Folsom, Calif. File Photo by Ken James/UPI | License Photo

SACRAMENTO, May 6 (UPI) -- California's State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday approved emergency drought regulations that will reduce water use by 25 percent.

Since last summer, about eight percent of water has been saved in California. In March, residents cut water use by 3.6 percent. Cities and water agencies across California must now reduce water usage by amounts from 8 percent to 36 percent following the board's decision.

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Brown defended his executive order signed in early April implementing mandatory water restrictions that largely left the agricultural community untouched.

"The idea of your nice little green grass getting lots of water every day, that's going to be a thing of the past," Brown previously said when he announced the water restrictions.

About 10 fines have been imposed for excessive water usage by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power since April 6. The state has been in a severe drought for four years.

Brown announced legislation that would increase fines up to $10,000 for the worst water wasters, up from $500.

The Democratic governor also proposed to further empower the abilities of cities and counties to issue fines, warnings and citations. He made the announcements after meeting with 14 city mayors. The steep fines would be for "only the worst offenders," according to Brown.

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Brown's executive order aims for a 25 percent cutback in water use across the state. The limits will affect everyone in the state, from residents to farmers to businesses.

Brown declared a state of emergency in 2014 due to the drought.

"This historic drought demands unprecedented action," Brown said in a statement.

The state recently recorded the lowest snowpack since records have been kept. Winter snowmelt provides much of the state's available water.

Brown's order aims to, among other things, replace 50 million square feet of lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping, offer rebates to replace inefficient appliances, require golf courses and other large landscapes to "make significant cuts in water use" and mandate drip irrigation systems in new home construction.

The order also calls for enforcement of the new rules by creating "conservation pricing," where rates go up considerably with more use, and requiring more strenuous reporting of water distribution and use by farmers and utilities.

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