SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's latest water-use figures show the state's families are still doing a good job reducing water use.
Figures released Tuesday by the state Water Resources Control Board show residential water use in February was down 25.1 percent from the same month in 2013, the state's benchmark year for water use.
California remains officially under a drought emergency, although near-record rains this winter have ended the state's five-year drought in most of the state. Officials are expected to announce any changes to the drought-emergency declaration in the next few months.
Urban Californians are no longer under mandatory water-conservation orders, but drought-time bans on things like watering lawns immediately after a rain remain in effect.
This year's mild, wet winter is helping to drive down demand for water.
(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)