California Tries to Measure Water Use as Drought Worsens
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State and local officials in California are struggling to track water use as Governor Jerry Brown calls for a 20 percent drop in consumption to alleviate a record drought.
The State Water Resources Control Board, for instance, reported usage in Santa Ana soared 63.6 percent in May from the average of corresponding months in 2011-2013, while the city said the increase was 7 percent. In Garden Grove, the public works director said use fell 14.4 percent in the month, contrary to the 31.5 percent increase attributed by the state agency.