California Economic Policy, Report Lawns and Water Demand in California By Ellen Hanak, Matthew Davis Jul 12, 2006 Over the next 25 years, outdoor water use will be a major factor in escalating water demand in California. The demand will be aggravated by the dominant land-use pattern in inland areas: single-family homes with lush lawns. Without efforts aimed specifically at reducing outdoor urban water use, the demand will pose significant financial and environmental challenges for California. In this issue of CEP, the authors analyze population growth and housing trends in the state’s major climactic regions, estimate residential lot and yard sizes, and examine the water needs of cool-season turf grass lawns. They also evaluate several outdoor water conservation programs.
blog post Drought Watch: Trends in Urban Water Use By Caitrin Chappelle, Emma Freeman Aug 20, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought. As water agencies look beyond the current emergency for ways to adapt to future droughts, it is instructive to examine urban use in two relatively normal water years, 2000 and 2010.
Fact Sheet Water Use in California’s Communities By Andrew Ayres, Caitlin Peterson, Annabelle Rosser Apr 19, 2023 Even as California’s population has grown by millions, its per-capita water use has declined. Communities are finding ways to boost resilience in the face of climate change.
blog post A Better Way to Promote Urban Water Conservation By David Mitchell, Ellen Hanak Nov 28, 2023 Californians have been making great strides in water conservation in recent years. Now the State Water Board is considering new urban water use regulations whose statewide costs would far exceed their benefits—and significantly impact affordability. Are there better approaches? We take a look.
blog post Drought Watch: Our Thirsty Lawns By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount, Caitrin Chappelle Jul 18, 2014 This is part of a continuing series on the impact of the drought. The unprecedented restrictions on outdoor water use that the state enacted this week send a message that Californians need to conserve more water. But we can do more to move toward sustainable consumption.
blog post Commentary: State Water Regulators Are Listening to and Learning How to Promote Conservation By Ellen Hanak, David Mitchell May 6, 2024 In an op-ed for the Sacramento Bee, senior fellow Ellen Hanak and adjunct fellow David Mitchell commend the State Water Board for adjusting its draft urban water conservation regulations back in March. They say the changes will give needed flexibility to struggling water agencies and help protect low-income customers from extreme rate hikes.
blog post Drought Watch: Priorities for Cities and Farms By Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount Mar 18, 2015 Cities need to do more to reduce landscape irrigation. For farmers, the options are somewhat different.
blog post Are California’s Cities Conserving Enough Water? By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Kurt Schwabe, Annabelle Rosser Dec 13, 2021 As Californians eye the possibility of a third year of drought, there’s been some concern that urban residents are backsliding around water conservation, especially compared with the last major drought. We examine what cities are doing well—and where they could improve.
blog post Taking on Tough Challenges at the State Water Board By Lori Pottinger Oct 29, 2019 The State Water Board is at the center of many critical water challenges, from protecting water quality to addressing drought. We talked to board member Sean Maguire about current priorities.
