California is clamping down on outdoor water usage by implementing new emergency regulations to hold back a further descent into the drought.
Among those rules, Californians won't be able to water lawns within 48 hours of at least a quarter-inch of rainfall. Decorative fountains and ponds will only be filled with recirculating water, and drinkable water can’t be used to water street medians or the strips between sidewalks and the street. Violations could carry $500 fines.
The State Water Resources Control Board said on Tuesday it was aware the rules were announced just weeks after rain drenched most of the state and snow-capped the Sierra Nevada.
"We see that on Dec. 30, snow water content was over 100% of average, and that’s great," Chris Hyun, Senior Environmental Scientist with the agency, told KCBS Radio. "However, looking ahead toward the end of the rainy season, the snow represents less than 60% of the April 1 average snow water content."
Hyun said that date is key because it's the end of the rainy season and the ultimate measure for how the state water supply is set up for the dry season. He argued that is why the emergency rules are needed.
State Water Board Member Laurel Firestone voted in favor of the rules, saying she wants a more permanent approach to water conservation.
"I think we all agree that we all need to do our part," she said. "These are no-brainer actions."
Enforcement of the new rules is shared between the water agencies and people in the community. The water board has an online application where people can report rule violations as needed.
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