Water Conservation Goals are Achievable, Affordable and Equitable

Investing in conservation is the cheapest, fastest way for meeting California’s water needs in this era of climate change.

Keeping up with Conservation Regulations

The California State Water Resources Control Board will soon be holding a workshop to discuss updated regulations for water conservation in California. Check this space for updated information; the agenda, date, and time for the workshop will be posted here once known. See this page for information about how to watch and/or comment on Water Board proceedings remotely.

When it comes to California’s water, business as usual is not an option.

That’s why state law now requires us to prioritize conservation. Gov. Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy calls for conserving up to 500,000 acre-feet per year by 2030.

Conservation is less expensive than new water supply infrastructure

Prioritizing conservation will make water more affordable in the long run, especially for low-income communities. Dollar-for-dollar, conservation contributes more to California’s water supply for less than it costs to develop the same amount of water in other ways.

Cost per acre-foot of water saved or generated

Conservation is equitable, affordable, and reliable

We support prioritizing conservation for the many benefits it provides:

  • Conservation is less expensive than new water supply infrastructure, making water more affordable for Californians.
  • Water efficiency projects support local jobs.
  • To help reduce local costs, we can tap into federal funding available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Many water suppliers have already received funding to support efficiency, and strong regulations can spur more water suppliers to pursue that opportunity.
  • Investments in conservation can be deployed much faster than new infrastructure.
  • Conservation provides long-term benefits in dry and wet times alike.
  • Outdoor investments in native plant landscaping provide crucial habitat for wildlife and make cities more resilient to climate extremes.
  • Investments in conservation provide multiple benefits that help California build resilience: protection from flooding during extreme rain, reducing the heat island effect during extreme heat, and stormwater capture to shore up local water supplies.
  • Saving water saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in conservation is the most equitable, affordable, and reliable option for meeting California’s water needs in this era of climate change. The proposed urban water conservation regulations account for differences in local climate and economic factors that make it feasible for water districts in different parts of the state to meet conservation targets.

Supporters of Strong Conservation Goals for California

350 Ventura County Climate Hub
7th Generation Advisors
Active San Gabriel Valley
American Heritage Pool Corporation
Audubon California
Battle Creek Alliance & Defiance Canyon Raptor Rescue
California Coastal Protection Network
California Coastkeeper Alliance
California Environmental Voters
California Native Plant Society
Carbon Cycle Institute
Center For Biological Diversity
Center for Environmental Health
Clean Water Action
CleanEarth4Kids.org
Climate Reality Project, San Fernando Valley Chapter
Climate Resolve
Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation
Community Water Center
Conservation Corps of Long Beach
Daily Acts Organization
Defenders of Wildlife
Desal Response Group
Eagle Aerial Solutions
EcoMalibu
Endangered Habitats League
Environmental Center of San Diego
Environmental Working Group
Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Friends of Ballona Wetlands
Friends of Loma Alta Creek
Friends of Plumas Wilderness
Friends of the Inyo
Friends of the Los Angeles River
Friends of the River
Global Inheritance
Greenbelt Alliance
GreenLA Coalition
Greywater Action
Heal the Bay
Hollywood/Los Angeles Beautification Team
Humboldt Waterkeeper
Inland Empire Waterkeeper
LA Conservation Corps
LA Native
Landfour Landscape Architecture
League of Women Voters of California
Let’s Make It Happen (501c3)
Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE)
Los Angeles Climate Reality Project
Los Angeles Living Schoolyard Coalition
Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust
Los Angeles Waterkeeper
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust
Mono Lake Committee
Monterey Waterkeeper
MorphoStrategies
National Parks Conservation Association
Nature for All
Northern California Regional Land Trust
NRDC
Orange County Coastkeeper
Pacific Institute
Pasadena Audubon Society
Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles
Planning and Conservation League
Prevention Institute
Promesa Boyle Heights at Proyecto Pastoral
Quail Springs
ReScape
Resilient Palisades
RGB Group Inc
River in Action
Russian Riverkeeper
Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps
San Diego Coastkeeper
San Jose Conservation Corps
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Save California Salmon
Save Our Shores
SEE (Social Eco Education)
SELVA International
Sespe Fly Fishers Club
Sierra Business Council
Sierra Club California
Sierra Institute for Community and Environment
Sierra Nevada Alliance
SoCal 350 Climate Action
South Yuba River Citizens League
Southern California Watershed Alliance
Spherical
Surf City Hydraulic Engineering
Surfrider Foundation
The C.R.E.W.
The River Project
The Sierra Fund
The Water Folk LLC
Tuolumne River Trust
Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, Occidental College
USGBC-Los Angeles
Walking Water
WaterNow Alliance
Watershed Progressive
Wishtoyo Foundation

Add your Organization
Download the Signed Letter

350 Ventura County Climate Hub

7th Generation Advisors

Active San Gabriel Valley

American Heritage Pool Corporation

Audubon California

Battle Creek Alliance & Defiance Canyon Raptor Rescue

California Coastal Protection Network

California Coastkeeper Alliance

California Environmental Voters

California Native Plant Society

Carbon Cycle Institute

Center For Biological Diversity

Center for Environmental Health

Clean Water Action

CleanEarth4Kids.org

Climate Reality Project, San Fernando Valley Chapter

Climate Resolve

Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation

Community Water Center

Conservation Corps of Long Beach

Daily Acts Organization

Defenders of Wildlife

Desal Response Group

Eagle Aerial Solutions

EcoMalibu

Endangered Habitats League

Environmental Center of San Diego

Environmental Working Group

Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission

Friends Committee on Legislation of California

Friends of Ballona Wetlands

Friends of Loma Alta Creek

Friends of Plumas Wilderness

Friends of the Inyo

Friends of the Los Angeles River

Friends of the River

Global Inheritance

Greenbelt Alliance

GreenLA Coalition

Greywater Action

Heal the Bay

Hollywood/Los Angeles Beautification Team

Humboldt Waterkeeper

Inland Empire Waterkeeper

LA Conservation Corps

LA Native

Landfour Landscape Architecture

League of Women Voters of California

Let’s Make It Happen (501c3)

Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE)

Los Angeles Climate Reality Project

Los Angeles Living Schoolyard Coalition

Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust

Los Angeles Waterkeeper

Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust

Mono Lake Committee

Monterey Waterkeeper

MorphoStrategies

National Parks Conservation Association

Nature for All

Northern California Regional Land Trust

NRDC

Orange County Coastkeeper

Pacific Institute

Pasadena Audubon Society

Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles

Planning and Conservation League

Prevention Institute

Promesa Boyle Heights at Proyecto Pastoral

Quail Springs

ReScape

Resilient Palisades

RGB Group Inc

River in Action

Russian Riverkeeper

Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps

San Diego Coastkeeper

San Jose Conservation Corps

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper

Save California Salmon

Save Our Shores

SEE (Social Eco Education)

SELVA International

Sespe Fly Fishers Club

Sierra Business Council

Sierra Club California

Sierra Institute for Community and Environment

Sierra Nevada Alliance

SoCal 350 Climate Action

South Yuba River Citizens League

Southern California Watershed Alliance

Spherical

Surf City Hydraulic Engineering

Surfrider Foundation

The C.R.E.W.

The River Project

The Sierra Fund

The Water Folk LLC

Tuolumne River Trust

Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, Occidental College

USGBC-Los Angeles

Walking Water

WaterNow Alliance

Watershed Progressive

Wishtoyo Foundation

 

Download the Signed Letter
Add your Organization
Add your Organization

Conservation-driven water savings are significant for Californians

Investments in conservation and efficiency will create 440,000 acre-feet of water every year, equal to:

90% of the water needs for the entire City of LA

8.5 Carlsbad desalination plants

Water use in 1.5 million households for one year

90% of the water needs for the entire City of LA

8.5 Carlsbad desalination plants

Water use in 1.5 million households for one year

Water conservation provides immediate benefits

Investments in conservation can be deployed quickly and provide long-term benefits in dry and wet times alike. Water supply alternatives like water recycling and desalination can take decades to build.  

Water suppliers can afford conservation

Historically, water conservation and efficiency programs have been largely funded through rates and other utility revenue sources, but water suppliers can also use debt financing,regional conservation partnerships, and state and federal grants. Thanks to the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, water agencies have an unprecedented opportunity to tap into a historic flow of funding available through 2026. Using these funds to implement equity-focused efforts like direct install programs can ensure all customers have access to improved water efficiency.

Conservation makes water more affordable

Investing in water efficiency helps utilities avoid, defer, or downsize investments in costly new supplies. Water-efficient landscapes are especially helpful in reducing the big swings in water use between wet and dry years, allowing utilities to plan more effectively and save money. Low-income households can see big savings in their water bills when conservation programs are designed to serve their needs. Reducing water demand also reduces energy, further helping households save money.

Conservation reduces urban water use through water efficiency improvements

According to the Pacific Institute, urban water use could be reduced by 30% to 48% by:

Replacing inefficient appliances and fixtures

Replacing lawns with climate-resilient plants

Reducing water losses from leaks

Conservation provides critical co-benefits

Less reliance on imported water

Delayed need for high-cost, high impact water infrastructure projects

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Healthier soils that reduce runoff, recharge groundwater, and capture carbon

Enhanced habitat for native species

Improved water access and affordability for low-income communities

Click image to enlarge

Promoting water efficiency is an essential strategy as California adapts to our new climate reality.

Curious about the benefits and costs of prioritizing investments in water conservation in California?

Explore these resources.