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California water use rises amid crippling drought

Eighi Hiastake, of the San Francisco Dept. of Public Works, retracts a hose onto his truck after washing a city sidewalk with a mixture of water and disinfectant on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, in San Francisco. In one of the most drastic responses yet to California's drought, state regulators on Tuesday will consider fines of up to $500 a day for people who waste water on landscaping, fountains, washing vehicles and other outdoor uses. The rules would prohibit watering of landscaping to the point that runoff spills onto sidewalks or streets. Hosing down sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces would be prohibited, as would washing vehicles without a shut-off nozzle. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Eighi Hiastake, of the San Francisco Dept. of Public Works, retracts a hose onto his truck after washing a city sidewalk with a mixture of water and disinfectant on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, in San Francisco. In one of the most drastic responses yet to California's drought, state regulators on Tuesday will consider fines of up to $500 a day for people who waste water on landscaping, fountains, washing vehicles and other outdoor uses. The rules would prohibit watering of landscaping to the point that runoff spills onto sidewalks or streets. Hosing down sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces would be prohibited, as would washing vehicles without a shut-off nozzle. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Associated Press 4 min read

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Californians increased water consumption this year during the severe drought, despite pleas from the governor to conserve, fallowed farm fields and reservoirs that are quickly draining, according to a report released Tuesday.

The new figures surfaced as state water regulators prepared to vote later in the day on fines up to $500 a day for people who waste water on landscaping, fountains, washing vehicles and other outdoor uses.

The numbers underscore the need for action, State Water Resources Control Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus said.

“Not everybody in California understands how bad this drought is … and how bad it could be,” she said. “There are communities in danger of running out of water all over the state.”

The report says overall consumption jumped 1 percent, even as Gov. Jerry Brown has called for a 20 percent cutback. It corrected survey results released just a month ago that said use statewide had declined by 5 percent.