IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Some larger urban water users in California may have to cut their usage by 35 percent during the next 12 months.
A plan released Tuesday by the State Water Resources Control Board would require more conservation from cities and towns with the highest per-capita consumption rates, according to multiple published reports.
That scenario, which would include large cities and small towns, could be approved by the five-member board in May. Any entity that fails to comply could be fined up to $10,000 a day.
If it’s adopted, more than 400 water agencies would be affected by the plan.
Most cities would be required to cut their water use by 20 to 25 percent, but communities with low water use might only have to drop their use by 10 percent, the reports stated.
State water officials will determine whether communities reach their goals by comparing water use during the next year to the amount of water used in 2013.
The proposal is part of the board’s effort to comply with Gov. Jerry Brown’s recent order requiring all municipalities to cut their water use by 25 percent.
Also on Tuesday, the state released disappointing water conservation numbers for February: state residents cut their water use by only 2.8 percent compared with February 2013, according to the reports.
