Conservation Lags Among Californians

Although Friant Division water use is down dramatically due to the lack of a Central Valley Project surface supply, the vast majority of Californians has been reluctant to conserve in the face of one of the worst droughts on record.
California residents as a whole have fallen well short of the 20% water use reduction target set by Governor Brown in an emergency drought declaration issued in January.
Between January and May, California’s water use declined just 5% compared with the same period in the preceding three years, according to the State Water Resources Control Board.
The figures were drawn from a survey of water agencies across the state.

HIGHER JANUARY USE

January water use actually increased. January is statistically California’s wettest month but this year was exceptionally dry.
From February through April – months immediately following the governor’s drought declaration – there was no significant conservation.
The first hint that a move toward conservation might be starting to take hold came in May when water agencies collectively reported a water savings of 25%.