James, Ian. “California Adopts Drought Rules Outlawing Water Wasting, with Fines of up to $500.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2022, https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-01-04/california-adopts-drought-rules-outlawing-water-wasting. 

Even though we had a good amount of rain during December that doesn’t mean the drought is over. California regulators want to continue reinforcing continuing conserving water, the goal is to cut down to 15% since the regular amount we use is 80% for pumping human use every year. This would be prohibiting overwatering yards, washing cars without a shutoff nozzle, and even watering grass within 48 hours after rainfall. This is all in the practice of reinforcing in case of expectations that the drought will continue within the following months. Those who violate will be fined $500 if crossed a violation, this will be enforced for households and water agencies. It could have an impact on low-income families to face shutoffs and tax liens from agencies violating regulation and lack of protection for those customers. 

 

In no way regulators are trying to make this reinforcing conserving water a burden for any household, low or high income but rather for the protection of the water usage within California. Having a plan to conserve as much water as California can and cut down the among of water human usage pumps can be a stability factor for the future of droughts in California. I think adding a fine can convince people to follow protocols and listen for the benefit of the future. Even if low-income families are having trouble paying a fine, regulators have set up a 12-month plan with their water agencies for them to pay.