Water Conservation
The Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District is always concerned about water conservation, and we encourage our customers to be aware of all water usage activities.
Making Conservation a California Way of Life aims to enhance water efficiency across the state. California’s weather has always shifted between wet and dry periods, but recent storms and floods, following years of severe drought, highlight the need to stay prepared. With hotter, drier conditions, reduced snowpack, and drier soils, our water supplies are at greater risk, and the State of California has been looking at ways to address this.
In 2018, Senate Bill 606 and Assembly Bill 1668 were passed, directing the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to develop new water-saving regulations for California. The new water conservation framework is part of a broader strategy to expand storage, develop new supplies, and encourage efficient water use. This approach aims to help communities adapt to California’s water challenges and reduce the need for emergency water cutbacks during future droughts. On July 3, 2024, the State Water Board adopted the Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation. This regulation sets specific objectives, or budgets, for residential and outdoor water use for each water agency, including the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District. The regulation goes into effect January 1, 2025 and state enforcement begins in 2027.
What do the regulations include?
The regulations introduce standard-based budgets for efficient water use that factor in variances like local conditions and may include bonus incentives for exceptional performance. This comprehensive approach results in specific Urban Water Use Objectives. Each supplier’s Urban Water Use Objective will be determined based on statewide efficiency standards for urban water uses, considering specific characteristics of the local service area like population, climate, and landscape area. The State Water Board’s rulemaking adopts statewide efficiency standards for outdoor residential water use, commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) landscapes with dedicated irrigation meters (DIMs), as well as for variances and bonuses.
What do the regulations mean?
At Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District, we are committed to ensuring the sustainability and efficiency of our water resources. We are currently in the process of evaluating our water usage and losses in response to the new state water conservation regulations.
Generally, for residents and businesses in the area, the regulations will mean a more tailored approach to water conservation that considers individual and area-specific water use. We understand the importance of these regulations in helping California adapt to climate changes and ensure a reliable water supply for all. While these regulations are set to be implemented soon, we anticipate that our specific adaptations and program changes may not be fully operational until 2026 or 2027. This timeline allows us to thoroughly assess our current systems and ensure that any changes we make are thoughtful, effective, and tailored to the needs of our community.
What can I do?
Although the District is evaluating the impacts of the regulations, you can still make a difference. Transitioning to climate-ready landscapes as part of these regulations can enhance nature-based solutions by increasing the use of native and pollinator-friendly plants. This helps create healthier soils by promoting the use of compost and mulch, which also diverts organic waste from landfills. Furthermore, the new framework encourages equity in water use by urging water suppliers to reevaluate rate structures and invest in community partnerships to mitigate urban heat, making these changes beneficial on multiple levels for the entire community.
For more tips on how you can save water please visit https://bcvwd.gov/water-conservation-tips/
Want more information?
For more information on the regulations, please visit one of the following resources:
State Water Resources Control Board Regulation Webpage https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/conservation/regs/water_efficiency_legislation.html
State Water Resource Control Board Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
https://dwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Making-Conservation-FAQ-for-website-08.09.24-FINAL-1.pdf
Association of California Water Agencies Fact Sheet
https://dwa.org/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2024/07/WUE-Fact-sheet-July24.pdf
Current Water Restrictions at BCVWD
California was surprised with significant rain and snow this year that eased severe drought conditions. As a result, Governor Gavin Newsom rescinded certain statewide drought mandates on March 24, 2023.
To learn more, read the Governor’s executive order at gov.ca.gov/2023/03/24/governor-newsom-eases-drought-restrictions.
The BCVWD Board of Directors also removed the District’s water restrictions by Resolution 202311. Read the resolution at bcvwd.gov/documents/2023-resolutions-ordinances.
Conservation Tips
BCVWD Conservation Tips
BCVWD Water Conservation Pocket Guide
California’s Save Our Water Website
Modified on 07/03/2023 at 5:00 P.M. – Please check back frequently. Information on the page changes frequently.
