California drought rules eased significantly

[alp227]

Last edited Mon May 9, 2016, 05:34 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: San Jose Mercury News

This summer's drought rules in California are going to be a whole lot looser than last summer's.

In a major shift, the administration of Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday announced plans to drop all statewide mandatory water conservation targets it had imposed on urban areas last June.

The new rules, which are expected to be approved May 18 by the State Water Resources Control Board, would instead allow more than 400 cities, water districts and private companies to each set their own water conservation targets, as long as they report them to state officials.

Water agencies, particularly in Southern California and around Sacramento, had complained bitterly about the statewide rules, saying that they were costing them hundreds of millions of dollars in lost water sales, and did not accurately reflect each community's local water supply conditions.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_29868853/california-drought-water-wasting-rules-made-permanent-under

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Edited - update

[sakabatou]

1. So, how much water did it give to frackers and water bottlers?

[NickB79]

2. "After the drought ends". My, aren't they being optimistic

Why is anyone assuming there will be an end to this drought?

Given that we've altered the planet's climate to such a massive degree, it's entirely plausible the CA drought conditions are the "New Normal", and wet years will be the outliers.

[ffr]

3. This is a wise move.

The fact being that water is being used at a rate greater than it is being replenished. And there, the easiest way to look at how they're fairing on that front is to look at the Central Valley's elevation.

[KansDem]

4. Remember this guy?

Rich Californians balk at limits: ‘We’re not all equal when it comes to water’

RANCHO SANTA FE, CALIF. — Drought or no drought, Steve Yuhas resents the idea that it is somehow shameful to be a water hog. If you can pay for it, he argues, you should get your water.

People “should not be forced to live on property with brown lawns, golf on brown courses or apologize for wanting their gardens to be beautiful,” Yuhas fumed recently on social media. “We pay significant property taxes based on where we live,” he added in an interview. “And, no, we’re not all equal when it comes to water.”

Yuhas lives in the ultra-wealthy enclave of Rancho Santa Fe, a bucolic Southern California hamlet of ranches, gated communities and country clubs that guzzles five times more water per capita than the statewide average. In April, after Gov. Jerry Brown (D) called for a 25 percent reduction in water use, consumption in Rancho Santa Fe went up by 9 percent.

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WP

Hey, Asshole! What happens when you run out of water? All of your f*cking money won't buy you a drop!

[ffr]

5. When I think drought, he's the first one who comes to mind

He should be jailed or penalized monetarily so severely that he gets with the program. Fuck traditionalists!

[ffr]

6. I just read your 2015 WP link

All that is about to change, however. Under the new rules, each household will be assigned an essential allotment for basic indoor needs. Any additional usage — sprinklers, fountains, swimming pools — must be slashed by nearly half for the district to meet state-mandated targets.

Residents who exceed their allotment could see their already sky-high water bills triple. And for ultra-wealthy customers undeterred by financial penalties, the district reserves the right to install flow restrictors — quarter-size disks that make it difficult to, say, shower and do a load of laundry at the same time.

In extreme cases, the district could shut off the tap altogether.

California’s largest lake is slipping away amid epic drought
The restrictions are among the toughest in the state, and residents of Rancho Santa Fe are feeling aggrieved.

“I think we’re being overly penalized, and we’re certainly being overly scrutinized by the world,” said Gay Butler, an interior designer out for a trail ride on her show horse, Bear. She said her water bill averages about $800 a month.

This is exactly how to deal with customers who think rules do not apply to them because of their wealth.

Next thing you'll know, these 9% increase water wasters will be running their city fed water systems 24/7 into holding tanks so they can flow water at higher rates as they wish. Only problem for them will be that they'll begin to see how precious and costly fresh drinking water can be.

[chernabog]

7. Want to save water?

[Person 2713]

8. [phone]

[GummyBearz]

9. Yes

Killing all life would reduce water usage. I wouldn't say "save" because its not like the water vanishes into a black hole never to return. Your idea of starting by eating the cows is a good one, hamburgers for lunch every day this week!

[chernabog]

10. You sound like a very smart person !