State Water Board Adopts Emergency Regulation to Supplement Voluntary Water Conservation
As climate change-fueled extreme weather continues to disrupt our water system, the State Water Resources Control Board today adopted an emergency regulation that prohibits certain wasteful water use practices statewide and encourages Californians to monitor their water use more closely while building habits to use water wisely.
Among the wasteful water practices included are irrigating ornamental landscapes when it’s raining, using potable water to clean hard surfaces or driveways, and the use of ornamental fountains. The regulation stems from Governor Newsom’s Emergency Drought Proclamation on October 19, 2021, which expanded the drought emergency statewide and encouraged the State Water Board to supplement voluntary conservation measures by prohibiting certain wasteful water uses.
Effective January 12, 2022, The State Water Resources Control Board adopted an emergency regulation to supplement voluntary water conservation which may apply to construction projects during the site preparation phase. The measures prescribed are intended to prevent the wasteful and unreasonable use of water. Construction sites rely on potable and non-potable water as part of the building process, and in many instances, no other feasible methods are available, which is recognized in the emergency regulation.
For further information, we recommend the two documents below.
