State officials lauded Californians’ continued water savings Monday while issuing a stern warning: State-mandated restrictions will be imposed again on suppliers that fail to take extended conservation needs seriously. Californians’ water scrimping kept climbing in April, with per-person daily water use slashed by 27 gallons compared with April 2013. Statewide savings rose to 26.1 percent for the month. They said sustained conservation remains critical and water suppliers’ efforts to develop and meet their own conservation goals will be closely watched. State officials in May agreed to end emergency drought restrictions requiring suppliers to save 25 percent statewide, through individualized water conservation targets of up to 36 percent set by the board. Under an emergency conservation regulation that took effect June 1, water suppliers must now develop their own conservation goals; the regulation is in effect until February.
