Watering restrictions that were put into place last Summer have been lifted for millions of homeowners and renters across Southern California.
Following weeks of heavier-than-usual storms, limits have been lifted for parts of LA, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which supplies water for 19 million people in six counties, rescinded restrictions that limited outdoor watering to designated days and times in an effort to combat California’s drought.
“We know these last nine months were a sacrifice for the dozens of communities under mandatory restrictions,” MWD board chair Adán Ortega Jr. said in a statement. “On behalf of Metropolitan, I want to express our deep appreciation to all those who helped us stretch our available water supplies to get us through the acute emergency. We needed a 35 percent reduction in use, and through your remarkable efforts, you achieved that. Thank you.”
Homeowners with a standard sprinkler system were limited to a maximum of eight minutes on approved watering days—twice a week. Watering was not allowed between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and was also prohibited while it’s raining and for 48 hours after it rains.
According to the local NBC affiliate, 36 percent of the state is in moderate drought, the least severe of the weekly report’s four drought categories. At the start of the water year in late September, that figure was at 99.76 percent.
Only 8 percent of California remains in a severe drought.