On Thursday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 606 and AB 1668 into effect in order to help the state better prepare for droughts and climate change by establishing statewide water efficiency standards.
“In preparation for the next drought and our changing environment, we must use our precious resources wisely. We have efficiency goals for energy and cars – and now we have them for water,” said Governor Brown.
These standards, which must be in place by 2022, strengthen the state’s water resiliency in the face of future droughts with provisions that include:
- Establishing an indoor, per person water use goal of 55 gallons per day until 2025, 52.5 gallons from 2025 to 2030 and 50 gallons beginning in 2030.
- Creating incentives for water suppliers to recycle water.
- Requiring both urban and agricultural water suppliers to set annual water budgets and prepare for drought.
The legislative action builds on ongoing efforts to make water conservation efforts a way of life in California.
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