Efforts to conserve water improved somewhat in California in March but were still well below the cuts officials are calling for as the state suffers through its fourth year of drought.
California used just 3.6 percent less water in March than it did the same month in 2013, according to new figures released Tuesday by the state Water Resources Control Board.
This March was unusually warm and dry, but state water officials had been hoping for a bigger reduction given the severity of California's ongoing water shortage. On April 1, Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order calling on California cities to reduce their water use 25 percent by the end of the next February.
On Tuesday, the water board also released data on how well the state's 411 urban water agencies are enforcing existing water rules. Most agencies have restrictions in place that, among other things, limit how often residents can water their lawns.
According to the water board all but 126 agencies had some limits on lawn watering. In Los Angeles, it's limited to three times a week. The L.A. Department of Water and Power reports it received 1,215 complaints of water waste, issued 1,364 warnings and assessed 13 monetary penalties.
Still, the March water use numbers are likely to fuel efforts to impose the first statewide mandatory cuts on urban use. The water board is meeting to consider a proposal that seeks to implements the governor's reduction target.
Since last June, the state as whole has cut water use less than 9 percent -- a far cry from the voluntary 20 percent reduction Gov. Brown called for in January 2014.
The low conservation rate makes the proposed mandatory cutbacks of 25 percent all the more challenging to achieve.
State officials say the cuts are a necessary insurance policy in case the drought continues on into a fifth year.
The reductions, however, don't come without a cost in the short-term. The cutbacks could reduce revenue for the state's urban water agencies by as much as $600 million, according to an analysis by M. Cubed consultants. Water agencies would likely try to recoup those loses by raising water rates on the consumer level.
M. Cubed also found a 25 percent reduction in water use would result in as much as $700 million in lost economic activity. But those costs would be offset, the consultants found, if the drought stretches into a fifth year.
Water districts varied in their conservation numbers. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power only reduced its March water usage by 5 percent.
Other water agencies even saw increases in water usage. The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District increased usage by 64 percent. A spokeswoman for the district said that the increase was largely due to an increase in population.
“Here in the Elsinore Valley area, we had approximately 9200 people move into the service area,” said Bonnie Woodrome, a spokeswoman for the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District. “Though the water demand has increased, if you’re looking at gallons per day, per person, it’s remained static.”
The City of Whittier increased its March usage by 22 percent. An official for the city said that month-to-month comparisons are not as useful as examining long-term averages.
“Water usage fluctuates drastically with weather conditions. As you would expect, when it’s hot outside, people will water their yards more to keep their landscapes green,” said David Pelser, director of public works for the City of Whittier.
“We had a hot March,” he said.
You can see a list of the South Coast's water suppliers by supplier below.
| Supplier Name | Mandatory Restrictions | Hydrologic Region | Percent Reduction 2013-2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fountain Valley City of | Yes | South Coast | 27% |
| Newport Beach City of | Yes | South Coast | 26% |
| Casitas Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | 25% |
| Golden State Water Company Ojai | Yes | South Coast | 21% |
| Sierra Madre City of | Yes | South Coast | 19% |
| Lincoln Avenue Water Company | Yes | South Coast | 17% |
| Valencia Water Company | Yes | South Coast | 15% |
| Burbank City of | Yes | South Coast | 15% |
| Castaic Lake Water Agency Santa Clarita Water Division | Yes | South Coast | 15% |
| Triunfo Sanitation District / Oak Park Water Service | Yes | South Coast | 14% |
| Vernon City of | Yes | South Coast | 13% |
| Glendora City of | Yes | South Coast | 13% |
| Golden State Water Company Simi Valley | Yes | South Coast | 12% |
| East Valley Water District | Yes | South Coast | 12% |
| Mesa Water District | Yes | South Coast | 12% |
| Camrosa Water District | Yes | South Coast | 12% |
| Covina City of | Yes | South Coast | 12% |
| Santa Paula City of | Yes | South Coast | 11% |
| Lomita City of | Yes | South Coast | 11% |
| Lake Hemet Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | 11% |
| Thousand Oaks City of | Yes | South Coast | 10% |
| Newhall County Water District | Yes | South Coast | 10% |
| South Coast Water District | Yes | South Coast | 10% |
| Santa Fe Springs City of | Yes | South Coast | 10% |
| Camarillo City of | Yes | South Coast | 9% |
| El Toro Water District | Yes | South Coast | 9% |
| Cerritos City of | Yes | South Coast | 9% |
| Compton City of | Yes | South Coast | 9% |
| Golden State Water Company Norwalk | Yes | South Coast | 9% |
| Golden State Water Company Claremont | Yes | South Coast | 8% |
| Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8 | Yes | South Coast | 8% |
| San Fernando City of | Yes | South Coast | 8% |
| Golden State Water Company Placentia | Yes | South Coast | 8% |
| San Buenaventura City of | Yes | South Coast | 7% |
| San Jacinto City of | Yes | South Coast | 7% |
| Port Hueneme City of | Yes | South Coast | 7% |
| Oxnard City of | Yes | South Coast | 7% |
| Golden State Water Company S Arcadia | Yes | South Coast | 6% |
| Golden State Water Company West Orange | Yes | South Coast | 6% |
| Arcadia City of | Yes | South Coast | 6% |
| Azusa City of | Yes | South Coast | 6% |
| Huntington Park City of | Yes | South Coast | 6% |
| West Valley Water District | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| Los Angeles Department of Water and Power | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| Sweetwater Authority | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| El Segundo City of | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| Monrovia City of | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| Golden State Water Company Culver City | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| Big Bear City Community Services District | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| San Gabriel County Water District | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| Vallecitos Water District | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| City of Big Bear Lake, Dept of Water & Power | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| Pasadena City of | Yes | South Coast | 5% |
| Walnut Valley Water District | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Jurupa Community Service District | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Montebello Land and Water Company | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Upland City of | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| California Water Service Company Hermosa/Redondo | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Suburban Water Systems San Jose Hills | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| East Orange County Water District | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Bellflower-Somerset Mutual Water Company | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Beverly Hills City of | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Santa Monica City of | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Fillmore City of | No | South Coast | 4% |
| Glendale City of | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Golden State Water Company Southwest | Yes | South Coast | 4% |
| Golden State Water Company Artesia | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| Crescenta Valley Water District | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| California Water Service Company East Los Angeles | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| San Bernardino County Service Area 70 | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| Golden State Water Company Florence Graham | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| Serrano Water District | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| Carlsbad Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| Inglewood City of | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| Monte Vista Water District | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| Golden State Water Company Bell-Bell Gardens | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| Suburban Water Systems Whittier/La Mirada | Yes | South Coast | 3% |
| Yorba Linda Water District | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Long Beach City of | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Huntington Beach City of | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Golden State Water Company S San Gabriel | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Orchard Dale Water District | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Riverside Highland Water Company | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Cucamonga Valley Water District | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Ontario City of | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Golden State Water Company Cowan Heights | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Tustin City of | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| Helix Water District | Yes | South Coast | 2% |
| La Palma City of | Yes | South Coast | 1% |
| Pico Water District | Yes | South Coast | 1% |
| Rincon Del Diablo Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | 1% |
| Pomona City of | Yes | South Coast | 1% |
| Valley Water Company | Yes | South Coast | 1% |
| Colton, City of | Yes | South Coast | 1% |
| South Pasadena City of | Yes | South Coast | 1% |
| Rubio Canyon Land and Water Association | Yes | South Coast | 0% |
| Orange City of | Yes | South Coast | 0% |
| Chino City of | Yes | South Coast | 0% |
| Sunny Slope Water Company | No | South Coast | 0% |
| Santa Margarita Water District | Yes | South Coast | 0% |
| Anaheim City of | Yes | South Coast | 0% |
| Eastern Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | -1% |
| Las Virgenes Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | -1% |
| Yucaipa Valley Water District | Yes | South Coast | -1% |
| Alhambra City of | Yes | South Coast | -1% |
| Escondido City of | Yes | South Coast | -1% |
| California Water Service Company Palos Verdes | Yes | South Coast | -1% |
| Manhattan Beach City of | Yes | South Coast | -1% |
| San Juan Capistrano City of | Yes | South Coast | -1% |
| Lee Lake Water District | No | South Coast | -1% |
| Poway City of | Yes | South Coast | -2% |
| Norwalk City of | Yes | South Coast | -2% |
| Santa Ana City of | Yes | South Coast | -2% |
| Ramona Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | -2% |
| Rubidoux Community Service District | Yes | South Coast | -2% |
| South Gate City of | Yes | South Coast | -2% |
| Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Golden State Water Company San Dimas | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Monterey Park City of | No | South Coast | -3% |
| Vista Irrigation District | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| San Bernardino City of | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Riverside City of | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Oceanside City of | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| San Gabriel Valley Fontana Water Company | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Rialto City of | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Moulton Niguel Water District | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Otay Water District | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Perris, City of | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Downey City of | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Hawthorne City of | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| Laguna Beach County Water District | Yes | South Coast | -3% |
| La Verne City of | Yes | South Coast | -4% |
| Padre Dam Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | -4% |
| Hemet City of | Yes | South Coast | -4% |
| Santa Fe Irrigation District | Yes | South Coast | -4% |
| San Diego City of | Yes | South Coast | -4% |
| Olivenhain Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | -4% |
| Park Water Company | Yes | South Coast | -5% |
| Pico Rivera City of | Yes | South Coast | -5% |
| Western Municipal Water District of Riverside | Yes | South Coast | -5% |
| Westminster City of | Yes | South Coast | -5% |
| Los Angeles County Public Works Waterworks District 29 | Yes | South Coast | -5% |
| San Clemente City of | Yes | South Coast | -6% |
| Lynwood City of | Yes | South Coast | -6% |
| Loma Linda City of * | Yes | South Coast | -6% |
| Fullerton City of | Yes | South Coast | -6% |
| California-American Water Ventura District | Yes | South Coast | -7% |
| Redlands City of | Yes | South Coast | -7% |
| Valley Center Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | -7% |
| California-American Water Company San Diego District | Yes | South Coast | -7% |
| Lakewood City of | Yes | South Coast | -7% |
| Buena Park City of | Yes | South Coast | -7% |
| California-American Water Company Los Angeles District | Yes | South Coast | -7% |
| San Gabriel Valley Water Company | Yes | South Coast | -8% |
| Rowland Water District | Yes | South Coast | -8% |
| Garden Grove City of | Yes | South Coast | -8% |
| Seal Beach City of | Yes | South Coast | -10% |
| Lakeside Water District | Yes | South Coast | -10% |
| Norco City of | Yes | South Coast | -10% |
| Paramount City of | Yes | South Coast | -10% |
| Irvine Ranch Water District | No | South Coast | -11% |
| San Dieguito Water District | Yes | South Coast | -12% |
| Rainbow Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | -13% |
| Rancho California Water District | Yes | South Coast | -14% |
| Brea City of | Yes | South Coast | -17% |
| Fallbrook Public Utility District | Yes | South Coast | -18% |
| Trabuco Canyon Water District | Yes | South Coast | -21% |
| Sanger City of | South Coast | -22% | |
| Whittier City of | No | South Coast | -22% |
| California Water Service Company Dominguez | Yes | South Coast | -24% |
| La Habra City of Public Works | Yes | South Coast | -29% |
| California Water Service Company Westlake | Yes | South Coast | -36% |
| Chino Hills City of | Yes | South Coast | -40% |
| Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District | Yes | South Coast | -64% |
For the full list of March water reductions by supplier in California, see the water board's listing.
This story has been updated.
