Resources Legislative Information Mandatory Water Conservation Targets 
| Mandatory Water Conservation Targets |
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Water use efficiency remains at the top of everyone’s list following the Governor’s emergency legislative session on water. Assemblymembers John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), Mike Feuer (D-
The proposed legislation would require that state and regional water conservation targets be established every five years. The bill would set the initial statewide target at 500,000 acre-feet of water savings, not including land use changes for agriculture. These targets are based upon the California Water Plan Update (Bulletin 160-2005), which states 4 million acre-feet of annual water savings potential could be achieved through locally cost-effective measures. The Department of Water Resources will develop numeric regional targets for the different hydrological areas of the state. The regional targets shall be designed to cumulatively achieve the statewide water conservation target.DWR will publish a list of technically feasible urban and agricultural water conservation measures to be implemented by each water supplier by December 31, 2015. DWR will develop standard evaluation methods for determining the amount of water conserved as well as new reporting formats.Every five years water suppliers shall report to the DWR the progress to adopt the water conservation measures and their progress in reaching the numeric targets. If one of the water conservation measures is not locally cost-effective or not locally feasible, the water supplier shall submit documentation supporting its conclusion to DWR. Because measuring agricultural water conservation is challenging, water conservation accomplishments are to be confirmed by an "independent evaluation." The bill does not specify who will conduct an independent evaluation. Based on the review, DWR may require the district to revise its implementation of water conservation practices and its numeric target for water savings. DWR will develop the methodology and guidelines to verify a water supplier's water conservation potential and water savings. Water suppliers may comply with the conservation targets regionally or the requirements may be met through the submission of an Urban Water Management Plan or Agricultural Water Management Plan.To read the full text of AB 2175 |
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