Gov. Newsom urges Californians to curb water use by 15 percent
it goes without saying we’re here with intention and purpose and that is to address the ongoing drought conditions in the state of California. As you may recall in april, we initiated our first proclamation of a state of emergency related to this year’s drought. We are now two years into a drought, having just come out of a five year drought that concluded uh just a few years ago arguably we have been in drought conditions as far back as 2000, not only here in the state of California, but all throughout the west coast of the United States. Some referring to the conditions in the west coast appropriately as a mega drought. These conditions are familiar to many Californians as a consequence, uh We have conservation as a way of life as it relates to being more efficient, more effective in terms of our use and utilization uh and distribution of water resources. However, uh conditions are such, they continue to devolve uh and as a consequence today uh we are doing what we had signaled was likely to happen not only after the initiation of an april proclamation of a state of emergency, but the subsequent state of emergency that we announced in May, we are back today Uh to sign an additional proclamation of a state of emergency, including additional nine counties total. Now, 50 of our 50 8 counties officially are now in uh a order that allows the ability for local water agencies as well as our state partners to be more efficient effective in terms of uh moving uh to draft addressed issues in real time. In essence clearing ole a lot of the hurdles. This fundamental proclamation just simply allows uh for the capacity to do things that otherwise would be laborious and take time to move more effectively inefficiently to address conditions as they take shape in real time. So 50 counties now in total, nine additional, as I noted moment ago, uh those nine includes san luis, Obispo marin county, in yo Monterey county, santa, barbara, santa clara, other counties, all north of the to Hatch appease interestingly. Uh We have now remaining counties primarily south of the Hatch peas, but about 42% of California’s population now are in counties that will fall under the guidelines. Uh And the requirements set forth in this proclamation, there is an additional uh order. We are also signing today, an executive order that executive order specifically will lay out um a framework to encourage voluntary water uh conservation efforts in the state of California. Wanna underscore voluntary water conservation. Here in the state of California. Uh we’re hopeful uh that people will take that mindset that we brought into. People in the state of California will take that mindset they brought into the last drought and extend that forward With a 15 voluntary reduction not only on residences, but industrial, commercial operations and agricultural operations. Uh, we’re encouraging people uh, to do the common sense things like reducing the amount of irrigation water you’re doing um, out on your lawns, for example, reducing uh, perhaps the uh, time uh, that you are in a shower, not eliminating that time. Not here, uh, nanny state, we’re not trying to hear be oppressive Again, these are voluntary standards. We have laid out a list of ideas that include just taking a look at where leaks may be occurring on your property, taking the opportunity to update the efficiency of your shower heads as an example when you’re doing a load of laundry, make sure it’s a full load of laundry. Just helps with water consumption as well as dishwasher. Make sure or just encourage you to take a look and you know have a full load dishwasher by the way you do those things. You also save money. Uh Oh it’s an opportunity not only save water, help us work through these drought conditions, but voluntarily. Uh this is an opportunity to remind you the opportunity to save money as well. Save our water dot com. Save our water dot com lays out a lot of ideas and specific uh strategies that we encourage you to take a look at. Uh So again, save our water dot com to learn more about how you can save money and you can help us through these challenging drought conditions. So that’s the two orders that were signing today proclamation state of emergency and an executive order which are in front of me. They may be in front of all of you with this wind uh in a second. So I’m mindful as I signed them to do so cautiously. But I just want to just highlight my appreciation uh to local water agencies, to local counties, uh and to the 40 million Californians. Uh we again have been through these uh proclamations before uh and we’ve come through them remarkably well because Californians have taken these uhh declarative directions, these voluntary efforts to heart and they’ve taken very, very seriously and just specific to that. I want to note uh that we had mandatory water conservation efforts during the last drought, Interestingly, per capita, we reduced water consumption by roughly 21% in this state Between 2013 and 2016. We brought in that mindset into this drought and this gives us an advantage over the last drought. We are currently Residential use in the state of California, currently is 16% below where we were in 2013 as we go in to this next drought. We also have been more effective and efficient in terms of water recycling storage. Uh and we have made a substantial amount of progress on groundwater strategies from sigma to Safe drinking water commitments, consolidations of small water agencies all up and down the state. And we are committing this year in addition to that, working with the legislature, billion dollar budget specific to drought because of California’s budget surplus, the 80 plus billion dollar operating surplus that we’re enjoying here in the state. We’re in a position to put $5.1 billion to use that will allow us to have emergency opportunities as well as medium and long term investments on water infrastructure all up and down the state of California. And so we are in a position uh that is a little bit more advantageous than the last time we went through uh a multi year drought. But nonetheless, uh sober reality is such uh that here we are again, uh and we will need to proceed with the lessons learned from the last drought, but with the benefits of those lessons now and the resources uh that we have not been afforded in the past, so with
Gov. Newsom urges Californians to curb water use by 15 percent
Updated: 12:47 PM PDT Jul 8, 2021
Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging California residents and businesses to voluntarily curb water use by 15% as the state’s drought conditions worsen. Newsom’s request is not an order, but it demonstrates the growing challenges of a drought that will only deepen throughout the summer and fall and is tied to recent heat waves. Newsom said the voluntary water conservation could include things like taking shorter showers, running dishwashers only when they are full and reducing the frequency of watering lawns. Newsom made the announcement Thursday at Lopez Lake in San Luis Obispo County, a Central Coast lake that’s well below capacity. San Luis Obispo County is among the areas now added to the state’s emergency drought declaration, up to 50 counties from 41 in May.Counties added to the state’s emergency proclamation are: Inyo, Marin, Mono, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz. The affected counties comprise about 42% of the state’s population, according to Newsom.Counties included in the proclamation are eligible for various state actions, including suspending some environmental regulations.— The Associated Press contributed reporting. This is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging California residents and businesses to voluntarily curb water use by 15% as the state’s drought conditions worsen.
Newsom’s request is not an order, but it demonstrates the growing challenges of a drought that will only deepen throughout the summer and fall and is tied to recent heat waves.
Newsom said the voluntary water conservation could include things like taking shorter showers, running dishwashers only when they are full and reducing the frequency of watering lawns.
Newsom made the announcement Thursday at Lopez Lake in San Luis Obispo County, a Central Coast lake that’s well below capacity.
San Luis Obispo County is among the areas now added to the state’s emergency drought declaration, up to 50 counties from 41 in May.
Counties added to the state’s emergency proclamation are: Inyo, Marin, Mono, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz. The affected counties comprise about 42% of the state’s population, according to Newsom.
Counties included in the proclamation are eligible for various state actions, including suspending some environmental regulations.
— The Associated Press contributed reporting.
This is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.