California Bill Seeks Sharp Cuts in Per-Capita Water Use

The state of California is looking to reduce its per-capita water usage 20% by 2020, a plan that's moving forward in the state legislature. The plan could mean drastic changes for many cities in the arid parts of the state.

1 minute read

July 31, 2009, 10:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


The bill is expected to see a vote this fall.

"California's "overall demand for water has exceeded our reliable developed supply." In just over a decade, it proposes to reduce California's urban water use - residential, commercial and industrial - from an average 192 gallons per person per day to 154 gallons. That would be an annual savings of about 1.7 million acre-feet, equivalent to more than a two-year supply for Los Angeles. (The national urban per-capita use is 101 gallons per day, reflecting the higher average rainfall in many states.)"

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