The California state Water Resources Control Board will decide on Feb. 20, 2018 whether or not to permanently implement water restrictions that were previously in place during the drought period during 2013 to 2017. The potentially permanent enforcement would carry a $500 fine for violators.
Despite just emerging from the category earlier in 2017, at least half the state again falls under the drought category, according to U.S. drought monitors. If such regulations are passed, they would go into effect in April and would prohibit excessive watering of lawns, washing of sidewalks and car washing.
Many of the measures that would be enforced are already rigidly followed by a large section of the public, but regulators hope that potential fines and more official implementation of such regulations would further incentivize those not following guidelines as closely.
The state also has resources in place for citizens to effectively self-regulate the water consumption of fellow citizens. Residents may visit www.savewater.ca.gov to report any instances of wasteful water use.
The Los Angeles area is currently receiving only one fourth of the rainfall that is standard for the area this season, and an estimated 46% of the state has retreated into drought status, all of which is concentrated in the southern half of the state.