The Long Beach Water Department has reported that residents and businesses met a state-mandated target and reduced water use in March by 16 percent compared to March 2013.
The City used about 3,986 acre-feet of water in March. Last month’s water use was the lowest since 1965.
Long Beach has reduced water use cumulatively by 15 percent since June 2015 to March of this year, water department officials said.
The State Water Resources Control Board extended the water reduction mandate throughout the state until October of this year.
“We still have to keep saving despite the improving snowpack and rainfall conditions El Niño has brought in the northern part of the state,” said Frank Martinez, president of the Board of Water Commissioners. “Conservation needs to be our new normal.”
Residents can still apply for the $2.50-per-square-foot Lawn-to-Garden incentive to remove their lawn in their front yard and replace it with drought-tolerant plants.
The free Annual Lawn-to-Garden Tour will take place Saturday, May 14 from 10am to 2pm and will feature over 30 newly transformed California-friendly gardens throughout Long Beach. For more information on the incentive and to register for the Garden Tour visit lblawntogarden.com .
By visiting lbwater.org/mission, residents can calculate their water usage to see if they are meeting the Long Beach target, take the pledge to save water and listen to song playlists by two local bands to remind them to take a one-song shower.
“We need to remember that the drought is not over,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “We have to keep up the saving until October and beyond, to make conservation a permanent way of life.”
Residents and businesses are urged to turn sprinklers off during and after spring rain storms to achieve water savings.
There are still rebates available for many devices, including high-efficiency clothes washers ($150 rebate) that save water and energy.
Funding is limited and provided on a first-come/first-served basis at socalwatersmart.com .
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) mandated Long Beach to cut its water use by 16 percent cumulatively, compared to 2013, until February of this year.
The SWRCB has extended the mandate, and the continuing mandate will require Long Beach to cut its water use by 12 percent monthly compared to 2013 until October of this year.
