United States: California water use drops 31.3 percent

Despite continued hot conditions, Californians surpassed June’s conservation rate and reduced water use by 31.3 percent during July, exceeding the Governor’s 25 percent mandate for a second consecutive month since the new emergency conservation regulation took effect. Cities like Santa Cruz, West Sacramento and Santa Rosa led the way. The percent of water saved by the state’s large urban water agency suppliers increased from 27.3 percent in June to 31.3 percent in July, in same-month water use comparisons of 2015 to 2013. A four percentage point increase in conservation is exceptional considering July is historically one of the highest water-consuming months in California. For June and July, the cumulative statewide savings were 29.5 percent.