California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
The 2023 water year is turning out to be one of abundance and water providers are responding by removing drought restrictions and penalties. In fact, Governor Gavin Newsom announced on March 24 he was lifting the state’s 15 percent voluntary conservation directive.
The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) is also removing drought penalties for customers and the Board of Directors directed staff to discontinue penalties beginning April 1, 2023.
CVWD is also increasing the District’s investment in conservation rebates by another $1 million, making the total investment $14.35 million for this fiscal year.
CVWD has already paid $8.6 million in conservation rebates this fiscal year, with another $4.7 million in rebates approved and in progress. Revenues from drought penalties funded increased conservation rebates.
Investments in conservation rebates throughout the 2022-2023 fiscal year will convert 4.7 million square feet of turf.
During the April 11 Board meeting the board will take formal action on removing the drought penalties and also consider returning to Level 1 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
