Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers reduced their water use by 13.7 percent in December, compared to the same month in 2013, below the 16 percent reduction goal set by the state, according to figures released Tuesday.
Since the statewide mandate was instituted in June, however, DWP customers have reduced a cumulative 16.7 percent, just ahead of the goal, according to the State Water Resources Control Board.
The statewide conservation rate was 18.3 percent in December, down from 20.4 percent in November. But overall, residents have cut their use by 25.5 percent since June, when Gov. Jerry Brown mandated a 25 percent reduction from 2013 usage levels to combat the years-long drought.
“While the recent rains and growing snowpack are wonderful to behold, we won’t know until spring what effect it will have on the bottom line for California’s unprecedented drought,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. “Until we can tally that ledger, we have to keep conserving water every way we can. Every drop saved today is one that we may be very glad we have tomorrow.”
Most Southland cities were still besting their cumulative conservation mandate, although many fell short during December, according to figures released today.
Buena Park, for example, saw a 14.1 percent reduction of use in December, compared to the same month in 2013, but its overall reduction since June is 22.9 percent, ahead of the 20 percent mandate for the city.
Some cities, however, were lagging behind their goal.
The cumulative water savings in Whittier since June is 19.4 percent, just below its mandate of 20 percent. Monterey Park is conserving at a 17.8 percent rate, below its goal of 20 percent.
El Segundo continues to struggle with its 20 percent reduction mandate. Residents in that city have cut their overall use since June by just 4 percent, according to the state. The city’s conservation rate in December was 16.1 percent.
—City News Service