Making Conservation a Way of California Life is a statewide initiative designed to improve long-term water efficiency across California. In 2018, Senate Bill 606 and Assembly Bill 1668 were signed into law, directing the California Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board to establish permanent water use standards for urban retail water suppliers.
On July 3rd, 2024, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted the Making Conservation a Way of California Life regulation. The regulation establishes a framework that assigns each water agency a water use objective, or budget, for residential and outdoor water use, along with additional requirements for commercial, industrial, and institutional water use and annual reporting.
These standards are intended to promote water-use efficiency statewide while accounting for long-term climate conditions and water supply reliability.
The regulation includes three primary components that apply to urban retail water suppliers:
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An urban water use objective, which establishes efficiency targets for residential indoor and outdoor water use
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Commercial, industrial, and institutional performance measures, which focus on improving water efficiency in non-residential sectors
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Annual reporting requirements, which allow the State to track progress and support consistent implementation
Together, these components shift water conservation from temporary drought-based measures to a permanent, ongoing approach.
Mission Springs Water District serves a desert community where water efficiency has long been a necessity rather than a short-term response. Early state estimates indicate that, under standard compliance, MSWD would need to achieve reductions that are not currently feasible based on local conditions and historical efficiency gains.
Estimated reductions needed to meet the urban water use objective include:
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19% reduction based on 2025 standards
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22% reduction based on 2030 standards
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29% reduction based on 2035 standards
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32% reduction based on 2040 standards
These reductions are calculated relative to the subset of urban water uses subject to the regulation. Given the significant conservation already achieved within the District and the physical and environmental limits of further reductions, meeting these targets through standard compliance alone is not considered achievable.
As a result, MSWD intends to pursue compliance through the alternative compliance pathway, which allows agencies to demonstrate progress by reducing water use by 1% per year. This approach provides a practical and sustainable path toward long-term efficiency while recognizing local conditions, existing conservation efforts, and the challenges unique to desert water systems.
The District will continue to promote conservation, invest in efficiency programs, and support customers in using water wisely. Our goal is to meet regulatory requirements while maintaining reliable service and protecting local groundwater resources for future generations.
Water conservation is a shared responsibility. Community participation, combined with thoughtful planning and efficient infrastructure, helps ensure a resilient water future for Desert Hot Springs.
01/01/2027: State enforcement begins.
01/01/2025: Regulation goes into effect, with state enforcement beginning in 2027.
07/03/2024: State Water Resources Control Board adopted the Making Conservation a Way of California Life regulation.
01/01/2024: Urban retail water suppliers required to begin submitting annual reports to the State Water Resources Control Board and Department of Water Resources.
05/31/2018: Senate Bill 606 and Assembly Bill 1668 signed into law.