New California Drought Restrictions Coming To Restaurants, Hotels, As Home Rules Get Stricter
FOLSOM (CBS13) — State water officials are going into emergency mode as it plans to impose tighter conservation restrictions after another dry winter.
Reservoir levels statewide are the lowest they've ever been, and the way scientists are seeing it, things are only going to get worse.
A scientist with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory wrote an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times last week saying California has only about a year of water supply left in its reservoirs.
State officials like Max Gomberg say it's a scary reality that's not far from the truth as the state enters its fourth drought year.
The first priority is managing what water is left. Stricter regulations will be up for vote on Tuesday that will affect both the hotel and restaurant industry.
Unless you ask for it, restaurants won't be serving customers water, and hotels won't change your sheets and towels daily.
Outdoor watering rules are expected to drop to two days a week or less depending on where people live.
Some of the rules are already in place, but enforcement has been lenient. The state is serious this time, saying it will slap water waters with fines up to $500 a day. Conversation inspectors will face a $10,000 fine if they hand residents and businesses warnings instead of handing out citations, which come with fines.
"This is an all hands on deck moment for the state and one of those areas where all actions add up. They do matter," Gomberg said.
If approved on Tuesday, the new rules will go into effect by the end of the month.