California’s drought is going into its sixth year, and residents are going to have to maintain their water usage for the foreseeable future.
The Huffington Post reports that since the California Water Resources Control Board lifted its mandatory conservation requirements four months ago, water conservation rates have declined. In August, residents reduced water usage by 17.7 percent, compared to 27 percent in August 2015.
“When the state board removed the mandatory targets, that sent a message,” Peter Gleick, co-founder of the Pacific Institute water think-tank, told Water Deeply earlier this month. “I think it sent the wrong message, and I think the numbers reflect that. It sort of said, ‘The drought’s over, the mandatory conservation targets are gone.’”
The drought isn’t figuring to let up anytime soon. More than 40 percent remains in extreme drought conditions, and a La Niña pattern will make this winter particularly hot and dry.
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