As California faces a fourth year of serious drought, Save Our Water – the state’s water conservation program – updated the State Water Resources Control Board this week on its plans to help Californians make lasting and permanent reductions in the amount of water they use every day.
This update came as the board released a report on urban water use showing Californians saved 29.9 billion gallons of water in December 2014, representing a 22.2-percent reduction in water use from December 2013.
This is the first time the state has met the 20 percent water-reduction target called for by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Building on the program’s successes in 2014, Save Our Water is expanding its message of conservation with a focus on changing long-term water-use behavior.
The program aims to give Californians the tools and information they need to permanently reduce water use, regardless of whether the state is in a drought.
Conservation – the wise, sparing use of water – remains California’s most reliable drought management tool, officials reported.
Each individual act of conservation – such as letting lawn go brown or replacing a washer in a faucet to stop a leak – makes a difference.
“We learned from our efforts last year, especially in how Save Our Water needs to deliver information to a state as vast as California,” said Jennifer Persike, Association of California Water Agencies deputy executive director of external affairs and operations. “We want to get the right information and tools to the right audiences to ensure our efforts make a difference.”
In January Save Our Water launched an all-new Web site, http://www.saveourwater.com/ , with new tips and tools, as well as a helpful design that allows Californians to access the program’s wealth of information from mobile devices.
The program is busy developing additional content, including a new Spanish-language website and an easy-to-use household water calculator that will offer tailored conservation information to users.
“We want Save Our Water to inspire all Californians to conserve water not just in the depth of drought, but all the time, every year,” said Nancy Vogel, director of the California Department of Water Resources' public affairs office.
Throughout the drought, Save Our Water has aimed to give Californians tools and tips on saving water at home and at work, every day.
In addition to the new Web site, Save Our Water connects with Californians on its Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Save Our Water is a partnership between the Association of California Water Agencies and the California Department of Water Resources.
Save Our Water updates State Water Resources Control Board on upcoming conservation education efforts
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On