Water Conservation Rate Statewide Drops in September

After three months of steady gains in conservation, Californians conserved 1.3 percent less water in September than in August.

For the first time, the State Water Resources Control Board also released the average number of gallons residences used every day. Board chair Felicia Marcus says that gives a more accurate picture of how much water is being conserved than looking at percentage reductions.

“Some of the folks who had lower numbers are folks who’ve been conserving for decades, " says Marcus.  "So it does give you a clearer picture in terms of the variables of how communities seem to be doing.”

The water board says comparing regions isn’t fair unless factors such as property size, population growth, rainfall, temperature and evaporation rates are taken into account. Collectively since July, Californians have conserved enough water to supply a million people for an entire year.