Riverbank, other California cities boost conservation for March

Residents of drought-stricken California doubled their water conservation efforts in March compared with the month before by turning off their sprinklers when the rain fell and changing habits, officials said Tuesday.

Cities and businesses used 24.3 percent less water compared with the same time in 2013. That’s twice the savings from the dry month of February, when the savings hit an all-time low of 12 percent, water regulators announced at a meeting in Sacramento.

“This is the most welcomed news I’ve had in a long time,” said Felicia Marcus, chairwoman of the State Water Resources Control Board. “In the rain, people know to turn off their sprinklers.”

March was a cooler and wetter month, and officials also credited Californians with changing their habits, especially when it comes to watering their outdoor landscaping, which consumes half of a typical home’s water use.

Several Stanislaus County cities also reported strong water savings in March, including Riverbank, which has struggled to conserve.

Riverbank reported a 35.7 percent reduction in March. (In contrast, it reduced its water use 9.3 percent in February and saw its use rise by more than 51 percent in January.) The city has worked with the state and undertaken several initiatives – including being in the midst of installing smart water meters that make it easier to detect leaks – to increase conservation.

Still, Riverbank has a cumulative water savings of 10.5 percent since the state-mandated water reductions went into effect in June 2015, which is far short of the 30 percent reduction the state imposed on the city and the worst showing among Stanislaus County cities.

“We’re pleased with the March numbers and hope it’s a sign that the city’s message to reduce water use is taking hold,” City Manager Jill Anderson said.

She said residents need to continue to reduce their water consumption, especially outdoor watering, as Riverbank heads into the summer. She said it’s critical for Riverbank to meet its conservation target because of the drought and to avoid the possibility of the state fining the city for falling short.

Water use in March was down 26.3 percent in Ceres, 33.1 percent in Turlock, 38.5 percent in Modesto and 56.1 percent in Oakdale, according to the state water board.

Conservation since mandatory cutbacks began in June 2015 has saved enough water to serve 6.5 million people for one year, or 17 percent of the state’s population, officials reported.

March is the first month under relaxed conservation requirements. Californians are expected to use at least 20 percent less water, a break from the previous nine months ending in February when Californians were under stricter orders to conserve 25 percent.

The state has imposed varying reduction levels among cities, based on their previous water use, to reach the 25 percent reduction mandate. Many Valley cities had been mandated to meet higher reductions. For instance, the state asked Modesto to reduce its water use 36 percent. But under the new conservation requirement, it now faces a 33 percent reduction. And Ceres saw its conservation target fall from 28 percent to 26 percent.

A nearly average amount of rain and snow this winter has eased California’s dry spell, filling key reservoirs in Northern California. Officials warned, however, that the state remains in a drought.

This month, state regulators in Sacramento are busy writing a new method for conservation in the five-year drought that will be implemented in June. They have said requirements could be reduced in some areas and maintained in others.

The easing drought has prompted many local water districts to say they want to set their own conservation targets. Other water districts say the state should drop the drought emergency because key reservoirs in Northern California are nearly full.

New regulations, however, will likely keep in place some level of conservation requirements, officials said.

“Californians have risen to the occasion and acquired habits and skills to conserve,” said Jelena Hartman, a state water board senior scientist for climate change. “I believe this is showing the commitment Californians have for conservation.”

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "Riverbank, other California cities boost conservation for March."