State Gets Report Card On Water Conservation Work

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – State officials say they're about to release an 1-800 number so that you can report your neighbor – or anyone in California – wasting water.

The recent weekend rain didn't wash away the fact California is desperate for water.

Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board underscored that reality by releasing a California water reduction report card.

The Davis water district and the Central Valley community of Oakdale are among the top in the state to cut usage during the month of September.

State leaders say, overall, many communities are trending in the right direction.

"But others don't seem to have done quite so much, so the questions becomes 'Why?'" said Felicia Marcus, the water board's chair.

So the new weapon to combat water wasting will be a state 800 number to report violators, whether it's neighbors or commercial businesses.

Water board administrators say many communities want the number.

"What we're looking at is an easier 1-800 number so that we can publicize," Marcus said.