For the first time, California will impose permanent water use restrictions on cities and towns across the state.
The new policy was approved last week by the Water Resources Control Board. The goal is for water suppliers to reduce usage up to 40% over the next 15 years. Those who fail to comply will face daily fines of $10,000.
Reduction severity will vary by region, with the largest cuts hitting the Central Valley. According to the Desert Sun, Redding will face a 39% cut by 2040 and a 21% cut by 2025. Visalia will need to cut 22% over 25 years. Exeter will need to cut 39% by 2040. Fresno faces a 21% cut by 2040 and a 4% cut by 2025.
Southern California’s Coachella Valley will also face big reductions, including a 32% cut by 2040 and a 24% reduction by 2025 for the Desert Water Agency.
The Victorville, Hesperia, and Adelanto water districts will need to cut 18% to 23% by 2040.
The Bay Area will face much smaller reductions since it has historically required less water. Salinas' California Water Service Company only needs to reduce 1% by 2040. No cuts will be required for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
With these permanent restrictions, officials hope to make conservation a “way of life” in California. The state has gone through two major droughts in the past decade and is on track for a 10% supply shortfall by 2040.
"Our climate has changed. Our uses should match the hydrology that we're now facing," Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the state water board, said in a statement.
Although the new restrictions fall directly on the water agencies, water users can expect a range of actions from their suppliers as the agencies seek to encourage conservation. These include possible rate hikes. Those hikes would disproportionately fall on low-income people, which has led to criticism. Water agencies have said the new policy would also cause challenges for them.
Read more about the policy here.