California Eases Proposed Water Restrictions Amid Pushbacks

California water regulators have released updated versions of proposed water-saving regulations which would ease the pressure on local water suppliers to meet the requirements. Initially, the proposed requirements—which go into effect in January 2025—required suppliers to reduce water usage by nearly 15 percent, and 33 percent or more in inland areas, by 2035. However, the proposal faced criticism from water agencies regarding its practicality. In response, in a March 12 update, California’s State Water Resources Control Board extended the timeline to meet the requirement by five years, pushing it to 2040. Additionally, under the latest update, many water agencies will face less stringent mandatory reductions than initially anticipated....