Water conservation dips on Central Coast, but most SLO County communities meet targets

Nearly all San Luis Obispo County communities surveyed by state water regulators met their conservation targets in October, though only a few cities saved more water than they did the previous month.

Statewide, Californians saved 22.2 percent in October, down from 26.4 percent in September and below the minimum 25 percent average savings called for by Gov. Jerry Brown last April, the State Water Resources Control Board announced Tuesday. Water regulators said they anticipated a dip in October’s conservation rate.

“It’s harder to keep the percentages up in the fall and winter when little outdoor watering takes place,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the water board. “That’s why the savings over the summer were so important. Now, we need to keep finding ways to save water.”

Average statewide water use declined from 97 gallons per person per day in September to 87 gallons in October, though temperatures were well above normal for most of California. The water conservation rate in the Central Coast region was 25.1 percent — down from September’s 26.7 percent.

State water regulators said that Californians have reduced water use by 27.1 percent in the five months since emergency conservation regulations took effect in June. Large urban suppliers, which were given specific conservation targets, have been required to report water usage every month.

In San Luis Obispo County, nine suppliers submitted conservation data to the state for October, which compares their water use from that month to October 2013. Average residential water use in the county ranged from 47.8 gallons per person per day in the Cambria Community Services District to 119.6 gallons per person per day in the Nipomo Community Services District.

The Atascadero Mutual Water Co. reported the largest dip in its water savings for October, with a 17.2 percent savings as compared to October 2013. The community, with a 28 percent conservation target, reported a savings of 26.9 percent in September. But cumulatively, it has saved 30.4 percent as compared to 2013.

For more information, go to www.waterboards.ca.gov.

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 3:27 PM with the headline "Water conservation dips on Central Coast, but most SLO County communities meet targets."