Governor Newsom
declared a drought emergency in nine additional
counties today (Inyo, Marin, Mono, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San
Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz) and directed
state agencies to take further actions to bolster drought
resilience and prepare for impacts on communities, businesses,
and ecosystems. This brings the total number of counties under
state declarations to 50. The declaration accelerates actions
that may be needed to protect public health, safety, and the
environment, including those related to water rights and
curtailment.
The Governor also issued an
Executive Order encouraging voluntary conservation of
water at 15 percent of 2020 usage. The State Water Board will
track the state’s progress toward achieving this 15 percent goal
and the Department of Water Resources will monitor hydrologic
conditions. The Governor, in his discussion of the declaration,
acknowledged that many communities have already invested
significantly in water conservation measures, some exceeding the
15 percent goal. The declaration outlined common-sense measures
that can be undertaken to save water including:
Irrigating landscapes more efficiently. As much as 50 percent
of residential water use goes to outdoor irrigation, and much of
that is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or runoff caused by
inefficient irrigation methods and systems. Watering one day less
per week, not watering during or immediately after rainfall,
watering during the cooler parts of the day, and using a
weather-based irrigation controller can reduce irrigation water
use, saving nearly 8,800 gallons of water per year.
Running dishwashers and washing machines only when full. Full
laundry loads can save 15–45 gallons per load. Full dishwasher
cycles can save 5–15 gallons per load.
Finding and fixing leaks. A leaky faucet that drips at the
rate of one drip per second can waste nearly 3,200 gallons per
year.
Installing water-efficient showerheads and taking shorter
showers. Keeping showers under five minutes can save 12.5 gallons
per shower when using a water-efficient showerhead.
Using a shut-off nozzle on hoses.
Governor Newsom did not rule out further declarations as
conditions warrant in other areas of the state. Households and
communities facing drying wells and shortages are encouraged to
report dry wells to the Department of Water
Resources My Dry Water
Supply, to help direct funding and resources. The State Water
Resources Control Board is also using its SAFER water
program to direct funding to small communities in need,
to connect small water systems, and to provide immediate relief.
