State finalizes long-term water savings regulations

By Melissa Sparks-Kranz, legislative affairs lobbyist (environmental quality)

The State Water Resources Control Board today adopted new water conservation rules that will impact nearly 400 urban water suppliers - about half of which are cities. The new long-term water rules include specific goals for water usage in urban areas to lessen the need for mandatory water reductions during the next drought.

The final water rules- released on June 14-maintain changes Cal Cities advocated for, including five more years to implement water savings programs and alternative compliance pathways for under-resourced communities and urban water suppliers. Some suppliers will need to make significant water reductions.

The regulations will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, giving cities two years to demonstrate compliance (by Jan. 1, 2027).

Cal Cities formed a working group last August when the draft regulations were initially released. Cal Cities participated in public workshops, all four written public comment periods, and stakeholder working groups to provide feedback. Cal Cities and city representatives provided further input in this latest round of rulemaking.

The state also updated provisional data showing how much water each supplier will need to conserve. Under the final regulations, cities will need to work with customers to make long-term changes to their indoor and outdoor water usage. Cities and other urban suppliers will need to calculate water usage and create well-designed programs that incentivize conservation to achieve the water savings targets.

Where did the final version of the regulations land?

State regulators made some revisions that will further support local urban water suppliers. This new version includes a budgeted amount of water to protect tree canopies and prevent the heat island effect.

The final also includes an enacting resolution informed by Cal Cities' advocacy. Cal Cities reinforced in its comment letter that the resolution must include a progressive enforcement policy that recognizes good-faith efforts, as well as robust stakeholder engagement moving forward to monitor efforts over the 15-year implementation timeline.

Regulators also clarified that cities and urban suppliers cannot increase water usage beyond prior water reduction goals that were to be achieved by 2020. Ninety-seven percent of water suppliers have already achieved or surpassed those targets, making such a change unlikely.

Water conservation is one of many tools needed to manage the impacts of California's dramatic swings from one extreme weather event to the next, which are growing worse under climate change. The regulations aim to reduce water usage by approximately 500,000 acre-feet - about 1% of the state's total water use according to the Legislative Analyst's Office. An acre-foot is enough to serve the needs of about three families for a year in California.

For more resources, information, and questions on the conservation regulations, please email Cal Cities Lobbyist Melissa Sparks-Kranz. Cal Cities also encourages cities to work with the California Water Efficiency Partnership, a technical assistance organization focused on water conservation, to support local implementation efforts.

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