California water agency releases draft framework

The State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, California, released its proposed regulatory text for Making Conservation a California Way of Life on Aug. 18.  

The body of regulatory policies and practices is intended to help Californians use water more wisely, eliminate water waste, strengthen local drought resilience and improve agricultural water use efficiency and drought planning, according to information provided by the California Water Efficiency Partnership. The proposed framework would establish water efficiency goals for urban retail water suppliers in California and includes standards for outdoor irrigation of landscape areas with dedicated irrigation meters or equivalent technology in connection with commercial, industrial and institutional water use.  

Releasing the draft framework has officially marked the beginning of the formal rulemaking process. 

“We’re building on lived and learned experiences from the last drought to prepare for increasing extremes in weather throughout the West,” says Eric Oppenheimer, chief deputy director for the State Water Resources Control Board. “Climate change challenges us to build conservation into how we manage, supply and use water daily going forward. This regulation proposes to do that in a way that’s balanced and achievable. It would set unique objectives for each water supplier while allowing significant flexibility to implement locally appropriate ways to meet them.” 

The water board is accepting public commentary on the framework until Oct. 17, 2023.  

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