[Leftcoast]

At the considerable risk of turning this into a real water wonk thread I add the following:

The independent/local waterboards are slowly responding to Governor Newsome's March decision to no longer require Level 2 Drought rules across California.  Notice he didn't REQUIRE they move to lower levels he simply left the decision to the local water boards. (At least that's how I read it).

The excerpt below is the response I see in the State Waterboard website - Note the Level 2 demand won't be enforced on urban water suppliers.  (Link to source at California State Waterboards website below. For real nerds (like me!) I've also linked Governor Newsome's press release below):

The emergency drought proclamation and emergency water conservation regulations are still in effect: Governor Newsom’s March 24, 2023, Executive Order (N-5-23), which reduced emergency drought requirements, does not immediately terminate current State Water Board (Board) water conservation emergency regulations. Please see below for more details, which are accurate as of April 4, 2023.

For urban water suppliers, Level 2 demand reduction requirement will not be enforced: 
The requirement for urban water suppliers to implement demand-reduction actions that correspond to at least Level 2 of their water shortage contingency plans will expire in June 2023, unless the State Water Board revises the Emergency Regulation to Reduce Water Demand. The board is not planning to enforce this requirement given current hydrologic conditions. Also, at this time, the Board does not plan to readopt this requirement before it expires.

For commercial, institutional, and HOA common areas, decorative grass watering remains banned: 
The Emergency Regulation to Reduce Water Demand also bans watering of decorative grass (non-functional turf) in commercial, industrial, and institutional areas, including HOA common areas. The Board may continue to enforce this ban and may consider readopting it. This ban coincides with the state’s long-term goal of Making Conservation a California Way of Life, regardless of the weather.

For all Californians, prohibition on wasteful water uses remains in effect: 
The Emergency Regulation to Prohibit Wasteful Water Uses (like refilling fountains without recirculating pumps, overwatering landscapes, watering grass within 48 hours of rainfall, etc.) is set to expire in December 2023, unless the Board takes further action. The Board may continue to enforce these prohibitions and may consider readopting them. Like the decorative grass watering ban, these prohibitions coincide with the state’s long-term goal of Making Conservation a California Way of Life, regardless of the weather.

Watch the State Water Board’s statewide water restrictions update (4/4/2023): You can view a video recording of staff’s emergency regulation update to the State Water Board (around the 1-hour mark).

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_iss...ation.html

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/03/24/govern...trictions/

[Leftcoast]

At the considerable risk of turning this into a real water wonk thread I add the following:

The independent/local waterboards are slowly responding to Governor Newsome's March decision to no longer require Level 2 Drought rules across California.  Notice he didn't REQUIRE they move to lower levels he simply left the decision to the local water boards. (At least that's how I read it).

The excerpt below is the response I see in the State Waterboard website - Note the Level 2 demand won't be enforced on urban water suppliers.  (Link to source at California State Waterboards website below. For real nerds (like me!) I've also linked Governor Newsome's press release below):

The emergency drought proclamation and emergency water conservation regulations are still in effect: Governor Newsom’s March 24, 2023, Executive Order (N-5-23), which reduced emergency drought requirements, does not immediately terminate current State Water Board (Board) water conservation emergency regulations. Please see below for more details, which are accurate as of April 4, 2023.

For urban water suppliers, Level 2 demand reduction requirement will not be enforced: 
The requirement for urban water suppliers to implement demand-reduction actions that correspond to at least Level 2 of their water shortage contingency plans will expire in June 2023, unless the State Water Board revises the Emergency Regulation to Reduce Water Demand. The board is not planning to enforce this requirement given current hydrologic conditions. Also, at this time, the Board does not plan to readopt this requirement before it expires.

For commercial, institutional, and HOA common areas, decorative grass watering remains banned: 
The Emergency Regulation to Reduce Water Demand also bans watering of decorative grass (non-functional turf) in commercial, industrial, and institutional areas, including HOA common areas. The Board may continue to enforce this ban and may consider readopting it. This ban coincides with the state’s long-term goal of Making Conservation a California Way of Life, regardless of the weather.

For all Californians, prohibition on wasteful water uses remains in effect: 
The Emergency Regulation to Prohibit Wasteful Water Uses (like refilling fountains without recirculating pumps, overwatering landscapes, watering grass within 48 hours of rainfall, etc.) is set to expire in December 2023, unless the Board takes further action. The Board may continue to enforce these prohibitions and may consider readopting them. Like the decorative grass watering ban, these prohibitions coincide with the state’s long-term goal of Making Conservation a California Way of Life, regardless of the weather.

Watch the State Water Board’s statewide water restrictions update (4/4/2023): You can view a video recording of staff’s emergency regulation update to the State Water Board (around the 1-hour mark).

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_iss...ation.html

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/03/24/govern...trictions/