Total water usage in California cities and towns decreased by just half a percent in February compared to the same month in 2020, a far cry from Gov. Gavin Newsom's goal of reducing urban water use by 15%.
Figures released this week by the State Water Resources Control Board showed that even during a third year of drought, Californians have been slow to step up conservation efforts.
Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the water board, said it's vital that Californians continue to make progress on conservation, "given not just this drought but the increasing aridity in the West" with climate change.
