The Golden State may have seen it’s fair share of rain over the holidays, but the State Water Resources Control Board wants to ensure California’s drought doesn’t worsen in 2022 and beyond.
Following a unanimous vote, the Control Board has announced new emergency water regulations aimed at preventing water waste—and homeowners need take notice!
The new rules ban hosing down sidewalks and driveways with drinking water, washing cars without a shutoff nozzle on the hose and irrigating lawns and gardens too soon after rain, according to Cal Matters, which notes the new mandates could go into effect as soon as Jan. 15.
Fines can reach $500 for violations, but it will be up to local government officials to enforce the new rules, largely expected to be brought to attention by neighbor complaints.
Last July, Gov. Gavin Newsom called for Californians to voluntarily cut water use by 15 percent to combat the drought effects. However, state officials announced statewide savings of just 6 percent following the governor’s request.
Cal Matters notes that the state still needs about another foot of snow water content by the end of March to reach its historic seasonal average.