SAN DIEGO -- San Diego County residents used 24 percent less water in August compared to the same month in 2013, and 27 percent less during the first three months of state-mandated conservation, the San Diego County Water Authority reported Tuesday.
The regional target for cutting back on water consumption is 20 percent, according to the agency. State water officials set the targets comparable to the same month in 2013.
The SDCWA reported that San Diegans reduced consumption by 26 percent in June and 32 percent in July.
"Significant savings in the high water-use months of June, July and August mean we are in a good position to meet the state's emergency conservation mandates that continue through February," said Mark Weston, chairman of the Water Authority's Board of Directors.
"September's extreme heat presents a challenge, but rain this week will help maintain our conservation trend if we all turn off irrigation systems for at least 48 hours afterward," he said.
Regional water conservation is mainly being achieved by reductions in landscape irrigation as residents and business comply with local water-use rules that generally limit landscape watering to two days a week, according to the agency. State rules prohibit landscape irrigation during -- and for 48 hours after -- measurable rain, which San Diego could receive today.
The water that's not being consumed now is being stored locally for future use, according to the Water Authority.
