In drought-ravaged California, water use is up dramatically

By ADAM BEAM
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s water usage jumped nearly 19% in March. State officials said Tuesday it’s the most water used in March since 2015. Gov. Gavin Newsom had asked residents last year to use 15% less water in the middle of a severe drought. Since July, the state has cuts it’s water use by just 3.7%. Newsom responded to the news by pledging to spend an extra $26 million on water conservation programs. That’s in addition to the $190 million he proposed in January. In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced residents and businesses would have to reduce outdoor landscape watering from three days per week to two.