The Californer - San Francisco declares a state of water emergency, urges citizens to cut usage by 10%

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San Francisco declared a state of water shortage emergency in the City, announcing mandatory cutbacks to conserve and reserve water usage following an "exceptionally dry weather condition" that has affected the entire state in the past two years.

The new measures, approved by San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), urge 2.7 million citizens across Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties to voluntarily reduce water usage across its regional system by 10%.

Mayor London Breed called for tough decisions during these uncertain rainy seasons to ensure a reliable water source for the future. She thanked SFPUC for its efforts in reducing water use.

She also urged people to step up their voluntary efforts like "fixing leaky toilets, installing low-flow fixtures, reducing outdoor irrigation, and receiving water usage audits from SFPUC professionals."

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California has been suffering through high temperatures and drought crisis, leading to devastating wildfire. SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera said the latest emergency water shortage declaration would help people come together and get through all of this.

The City is launching a water conservation public awareness campaign to help people understand how to reduce water usage by 10% voluntarily. Despite the continuous efforts to contain the water crisis,

The Mayor's office noted that San Francisco has one the lowest water use rates in California, with an average San Franciscan using 42 gallons of water per day at home. That's less than half of the statewide average of about 90 gallons per person per day.

Despite many efforts and initiatives by city officials, the situation remains grim across the entire state. The water emergency declaration allows SFPUC to access water reserves only during emergencies.

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However, with the state continuing to experience extremely dry weather overall, the SFPUC is expanding on those efforts by declaring a water shortage emergency, which will help the agency access water reserves and resources available only during emergencies.

According to Mayor's office, SFPUC had earlier asked its 1,600 irrigation customers and City departments to reduce water use. The agency also announced permanent water waste restriction in San Francisco including "avoiding runoff from irrigation and outdoor cleaning and limiting the hosing of sidewalks and hardscapes to only address health and safety needs."

In addition, SFPUC also encourages efficient use of water by offering many resources including free onsite irrigation checkups and landscape evaluations. It also offers an extensive indoor water-saving assistance that can replace old residential toilets and offers discounts for efficient clothes washers and other equipment, and home and business conservation consultations.

Earlier this year, Governor Gavin announced a Drought Emergency for 50 of the 58 counties in California, urging Californians to reduce water use by 15 percent voluntarily.

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