Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) Board of Directors voted today to return to Level 1 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP), rescinding the Level 2 emergency conservation actions required by the state in May 2022.
These decisions are in response to the significant increase in rain and snow this year and Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement on March 24 to lift the state’s 15 percent voluntary conservation directive. The state’s ban on watering ornamental grass on commercial properties remains in place.
As part of the rollback, drought penalties were terminated effective April 1, 2023.
The Board also voted to continue offering a $3 per square foot rebate for converting turf to desert-friendly landscaping. CVWD increased the rebate in April 2022 as part of the action to expand conservation programs.
CVWD has already paid $8.6 million in conservation rebates this fiscal year, with another $4.7 million in rebates approved and in progress. Revenues from drought penalties funded increased conservation rebates. The cities of Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and Indian Wells invested in their communities during the drought emergency to match CVWD’s rebates.
Investments in conservation rebates throughout the 2022-2023 fiscal year will convert 4.7 million square feet of turf.
CVWD encourages customers to continue saving water by making conservation a way of life. Additional water-saving tips, drought updates, and rebate information are available at cvwd.org/conservation
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