California Drought Restrictions Ease Following Series of Winter Storms

Following a winter of relentless rain and snow in California, Governor Gavin Newsom introduced on Friday a rollback on drought restrictions throughout the state.  

“The easing of restrictions is one thing that Desert Water Company welcomes,” mentioned Ashley Metzger, Spokesperson for Desert Water Company. “We haven’t but – as a result of we’re not capable of,  however as soon as the state water board takes motion, we will take away our Degree 2 restrictions.”

Desert Water Company moved from Degree 1 of its Drought Response Plan to Degree 2 final June. 

“In our Degree 2 stage, we’ve got necessities for individuals to not use their sprinklers throughout sunlight hours, and eating places may not serve water to prospects except they particularly request it,” mentioned Metzger.

Governor Newsom’s motion on Friday permits the State Water Sources Management Board to now rescind these restrictions, at which period water businesses throughout the nation – together with Desert Water Company which serves Palm Springs and Cathedral Metropolis – can ease their water restrictions. 

“This motion by Governor Newsom is absolutely simply step one in permitting water businesses throughout California to essentially ease up given all the moist climate that we’ve seen right here within the Coachella Valley, but additionally within the Sierra Nevada the place all of our water provides come from that we depend on to maintain us sustainable,” mentioned Metzger.

However some restrictions will nonetheless stay in place.

“No watering after rain, not watering a lot that it hits the sidewalk – these issues are all part of stage 1 and people might be in place all the time,” mentioned Metzger.

And regardless of record-rainfall, California’s drought is way from over.  

“California is getting hotter and drier and it’s one thing that Desert Water Company and all of our neighbors across the state are working actually onerous to arrange for,” mentioned Metzger.

“Positively wanting prospects to be water environment friendly and search for methods they’ll preserve their utilization,” mentioned Melinda Weinrich, Outreach and Conservation Supervisor for Desert Water Company.