In a landmark decision aimed at tackling the ongoing water crisis in California, the state has introduced permanent water restrictions for its cities and towns. The regulation, approved by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), will require the largest water utilities in the state to reduce water supply over the next 15 years.

While the new measure does not directly apply to households or individuals, it marks a significant step towards addressing water conservation and building resilience in the drought-stricken state. Previously, the SWRCB had implemented temporary water conservation measures during drought emergencies, but this is the first time that permanent measures have been adopted.

The concept behind the new regulation is to encourage water suppliers to save the precious resource at all times, thereby avoiding the need to scramble during future droughts. The SWRCB believes that making conservation a "California way of life" will help manage water supply more effectively.

California has experienced two major droughts in the last decade and is projected to face a 10 percent water supply shortfall by 2040 due to hotter and drier weather conditions. To address this, the regulation requires water suppliers to calculate water budgets based on the needs of each community, taking into account factors such as residential water use, outdoor water use, commercial and institutional landscapes, and permitted water loss from leakage.

Urban retail water suppliers will be mandated to comply with these water budgets, known as "water use objectives," with a target of delivering up to nearly 40 percent less water to residents. Failure to meet the targets will result in fines of up to $10,000 per day. Suppliers can achieve these reductions by implementing restrictions on consumers, incentivizing water savings through rate hikes, or promoting usage of low-flow appliances.

The new regulation, combined with existing water-saving efforts, is expected to save approximately 500,000 acre-feet of water annually by 2040, which is enough to supply over 1.4 million households for a year, according to the SWRCB.

The regulation will go into effect by January 1, 2025, pending official adoption by the state Office of Administrative Law. Joaquin Esquivel, SWRCB board chair, hailed the decision as an "exciting and historic moment for California," emphasizing the balance struck between saving water and allowing suppliers flexibility to tailor conservation strategies to local needs and climate.

Not every city and town in California will face the same level of water supply cuts. The Bay Area, historically requiring less water, will see limited reductions. Salinas' California Water Service Company will only need to cut supplies by 1 percent by 2040. However, Desert Water Agency, based in Palm Springs, will face a substantial 32 percent cut by that same year. The City of Redding will face the highest cut, with reductions of 21 percent by 2025 and 39 percent by 2040.

As California takes this significant step towards long-term water conservation, the hope is that these permanent water restrictions will help the state better manage its water resources, endure future droughts, and build a more sustainable future.