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California Drought: ‘Water Reduction’ Mandate Even Threatens Showers?

By Antonio J. Newell
Published on: 09:33 PST, Apr 11, 2015

In the midst of California’s drought, the state is looking extra dry right about now. Recently, a statewide-mandate has been placed on water usage.

In latest news, the mandate put in place by California’s governor, Jerry Brown, sets up an effective way to reserve the little water remaining. However, one of the key entities targeted are residences.

While California’s water supply is at record lows, Brown proposes that it’s the residential areas who most-affect consumption. Likewise, this drought plan acts to minimize water usage even down to household showers.

According to Time, in January, 2014, California asked for a voluntary use reduction of 20 percent. However, it’s said that the state only received 10 percent, instead. So, in an effort to gain cooperation, California’s water supply is now being regulated amid this drought. Consequently, the state requires a 25 percent reduction. And it’s possible that, if Californians don’t comply with the new standards, residents could be fined. So, that means that much of the cosmetic upkeep may have to dwindle. Ellen Hanak of Time offers her opinion about the matter.

“Most Californians don’t realize that fully half of all water use in the state’s cities and suburbs goes to landscaping, and in many of the hotter, inland communities, such as Bakersfield or Palm Springs, that share is even higher. This has happened because Californians have been accustomed to landscaping with thirsty plants like lawns that are better suited for regions where it rains in the summer.”

A possible alternative could be rock or mulch. Both require no water, and the upkeep is far-less expensive or water-consuming. Though the water reduction plan may appear stringent, it’s actually one that could possibly remain in effect. If so, this is proposed to help with any future, California droughts that may actualize.

Since California is a desert-state, like its neighboring states, it’s dependent on snowfall from mountainous regions within its territories. In the summer, snow and ice from those areas melt and supply a reserve water supply. However, that’s where the concern appears. California’s mountain snowfall wasn’t as plenteous as in past years.

California Drought - Even The Mountains Are Dry
Credits: Max Whittaker | Getty Images

Hanak goes on to confirm how greatly the snow impacts California water supplies.

“When California Governor Jerry Brown announced a sweeping set of policies to address a fourth year of severe drought, he stood on a bare mountain meadow that most years would have been covered in five feet of snow. But the dry winter, combined with record heat, means the state has almost no snow in reserve. No snow in April is a big deal for California.”

Did you know this was the fourth year of the drought? Do you think California will pull through and recover?

California Drought - Even The Mountains Are Dry II
Credits: Max Whittaker | Getty Images

Many Californians state that the residents aren’t the cause of the problem. They believe that water bottling companies are to blame for their daily water consumptions. And in that, many question why the governor doesn’t place restrictions on their operations, instead of limiting California residents‘ uses. What do you think?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

[Photo Credit: Max Whittaker | Getty Images]

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