California may be too optimistic about the adequacy of its water supply as it scales back on demands for conservation. Critics are telling the New York Times that water use is on the rise again and conservation has dropped from its peak of 25% last year to 18%. Peter H. Gleick, a founder of the Pacific Institute, a think tank dedicated to water issues, said, “The lifting of the mandatory conservation targets was a big mistake. It sent the wrong message, it stopped the implementation of a growing set of effective urban conservation and efficiency programs, and it took pressure off both utilities and individuals to continue to improve water-use efficiency.”
Felicia Marcus, the chairwoman of the Water Resources Control Board, said regulators are keeping a close watch on the situation and will reimpose mandatory cuts if necessary.
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