LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers reduced their water use by 18 percent in May, compared to the same month two years ago, according to figures released today by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Statewide, water use dropped by 28.9 percent, according to the board.
Gov. Jerry Brown has called for an overall 25 percent drop in water use over 2013 totals because of the continuing drought, though individual water suppliers have been assigned varying cutback targets.
“The numbers tell us that more Californians are stepping up to help make their communities more water secure, which is welcome news in the face of this dire drought,” said State Water Board Chair Felicia Marcus.
“That said, we need all Californians to step up — and keep it up – as if we don’t know when it will rain and snow again, because we don’t,” she said. “If the drought continues beyond this year, we’ll all be glad we did.”
In Long Beach, residents reduced their water use by 20 percent in May, according to the state. City officials said they have already calculated June water use and found a 19 percent reduction from two years ago, dropping to the city’s lowest level since 1956.
“I’m very proud of the effort by our residents, businesses, schools and very own water department,” Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said. “We continue to lead statewide.”
Customers of the San Gabriel Valley Water Company reduced their use by 35 percent in May, compared to May 2013, according to the state. Garden Grove residents reduced by 24 percent, Pico Rivera by 25 percent, Azusa by 27 percent, Anaheim by 25 percent, La Habra by 29 percent, Buena Park by 30 percent and South Pasadena by 31 percent.