State WaterRegulations Update **May 2018**

Although Governor Jerry Brown declared an end to California's historic five-year drought in 2017,on May 31, 2018, Governor Brown signed into law two new bills that will require urban water providers throughout California to set new permanent water use targets for their service areas by 2022. SB 606 by Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) and AB 1668 by Assemblymember Lauren Friedman (D-Glendale) will help the state better prepare for droughts and climate change by establishing statewide water efficiency standards. 

While many details for implementing the new water use requirements will be determined over the next several years, the overall framework includes:

• A standard for indoor residential water use of 55 gallons per person per day -- dropping incrementally to 50 gallons beginning in 2030.
• A standard for outdoor residential water use (to be determined) based on a community's climate and the amount of landscaped area.
• A standard for water loss due to leaks in water system pipes (to be determined).

Cal Water 

The City of San Mateo's water supply is provided by California Water Service (Cal Water), a private water supplier that provides water to 21 districts in California. Cal Water is responsible for developing and enforcing the compliance plan to meet state regulations. 

To help meet current and future regulations, Cal Water has a number of water conservation initiatives. Customers should visit the Cal Water Conservation Page for rebates, resources, and program information. Customers can also read a Fact Sheet on the State's May legislation.