Water use rises as drought restrictions fade from memory

In the months after Gov. Jerry Brown declared an end to California’s five-year drought, water use in the state has risen, though not as much as it was before the dry spell took hold. But as California emerges from a second straight summer of increased water use, experts say those savings — no longer mandated by the state — are fragile. And keeping them up will be critical to preparing for the next dry spell.

This summer, the first since the state’s record winter rains, posed a test for communities: Now that the pressure’s off, can they keep saving water? The answer depends on where you ask the question. At the Jurupa Community Service District in Riverside County, many water-saving programs remain in place: customers can get a rebate for buying an efficient washer, attend a water efficiency seminar, or claim up to 25 low-spray sprinkler nozzles for free.

The district’s most visible weapon for fighting water waste is a van painted with cartoon water droplets and a drought-friendly landscape. During the drought, Alison Lokeh would hop in the van to preach conservation. Those were busy days: Lokeh could get 100 calls in a day from residents. "It was […]

Full article: Water use rises as drought restrictions fade from memory