California Imposes Permanent Water Restrictions for First Time Amid Ongoing Droughts

Jul 6, 2024, 11:02 AM

California water officials have voted to adopt a landmark regulation that will guide water use and conservation for years to come. Following a decade marked by two major droughts and anticipating more dry periods, the state is imposing permanent water restrictions on cities and towns for the first time in its history. The new regulation, approved by the California State Water Resources Control Board on Wednesday, mandates that the state's largest water utilities, which serve 95% of California, adhere to these rules. The regulations were mandated by a package of laws aimed at making 'water conservation a California way of life.' These measures will affect urban areas and their water suppliers significantly.