California State Water Board adopts new emergency water conservation regulations

Calls for water conservation in California haven't worked. Now Gov. Gavin Newsom is threatening mandatory water restrictions if Californians don't start using less water on their own. On Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board voted to adopt emergency water conservation regulations to boost water savings starting in June. The new regulations ban irrigating turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties. For example, grass in large industrial or commercial buildings. The ban does not apply to watering turf that is used for recreation or other community purposes, water used at residences, or water used to maintain trees.