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Californians were less diligent about saving water during August, as the state’s conservation rate fell below 20 percent.
Statewide, residents used 17.7 less water during August than they did in August 2013, well below the 20 percent reduction they reached in July, the State Water Resources Control Board reported Wednesday.
Although not considered catastrophic, the drop did raise concerns that some water suppliers aren’t emphasizing conservation as much as they have been. As the state heads into a possible sixth year of drought, a return to mandated conservation might be necessary next year, the board stated.
“It’s a mixed picture,” State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus said in a statement. “Many communities that certified that they don’t ‘need’ to conserve are still conserving up a storm, while others have slipped more than seems prudent.”
Since June 2015, California residents have saved an estimated two million acre feet of water, enough to supply 10 million people – more than one-fourth of the state’s population – for one year, according to the board.
