ACWA Comments on June Water Conservation Levels

SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 30, 2015) - Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Executive Director Timothy Quinn issued the following statement on urban water conservation levels for June reported by the State Water Resources Control Board today. According to the State Water Board, urban water suppliers statewide reduced water use by 27.3% in June as compared to June 2013, exceeding the 25% statewide reduction required under emergency regulations that took effect June 1.

"Californians around the state are getting the message about the drought and the need to reduce their water use. More and more urban residents are heeding their local water agency's call to cut back on outdoor watering and take other measures to save water, with some communities reporting reductions of 40% or more. We need everyone to keep up the good work as the hot summer months continue.

"We applaud local water agencies for the hard work and creative approaches they are taking to reach the public. It's been a huge lift in a short amount of time, requiring significant resources and customer engagement. Many agencies began rolling out messaging in late May and June, and it's great to see those efforts are bearing fruit. We are pleased to showcase their innovative programs in our Drought Response Gallery at http://droughtresponse.acwa.com/.

"While the June conservation numbers are good news, we have to remember that droughts are costly for local water agencies. Mandatory conservation translates into reduced water sales, and many agencies will see significant reductions in revenues this year -- even as they incur extra costs for expanded public outreach and education, enforcement of water use restrictions and acquiring supplemental supplies. The reality is that rate increases, surcharges and other pricing adjustments are part of the drought story this year."

ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 430 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com. To help Californians reduce water use, ACWA manages the Save Our Water program -- the state's largest water conservation education program -- in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources. Visit www.saveourwater.com for details.