Urban water use down 10 percent statewide in July

Statewide urban water use dropped by 10.4% in July compared to the same time in 2020 according to numbers released by the State Water Resources Control Board last week.

According to the Board, in July 2022, all hydrologic regions saw clear decreases in water use relative to July 2020, with the northern half of the state continuing to conserve at a more rapid pace than the more arid and populous south. The North Coast hydrologic region, where the drought was first declared, almost tripled its June savings in July, and has achieved nearly 15% cumulative savings since July 2021.

Monthly (July 2022) and cumulative savings by hydrologic region were as follows:

• North Coast: -28.5% (-14.7% cumulative)
• San Francisco Bay: -17.3% (-9.7% cumulative)
• South Lahontan: -16.1% (-3.7% cumulative)
• Sacramento River: -12.4% (-6.1% cumulative)
• San Joaquin River: -8.9% (-3.2% cumulative)
• South Coast: -8.6% (-1.3% cumulative)
• North Lahontan: -7.9% (-9.1% cumulative)
• Tulare Lake: -7.1% (-1.9% cumulative)
• Central Coast: -6.8% (-2.5% cumulative)
• Colorado River: -5.6% (+0.9% cumulative)

The report also pointed out that fourteen of the state’s 58 counties reached the 15% voluntary conservation goal in July 2022, with three counties (Sonoma, Marin and Napa) achieving more than 15% in cumulative savings since July 2021.