California Drought: Santa Cruz Pushes the Limit With the State’s Toughest Water Rationing Laws
in Santa Cruz, there’s a new pastime: people lifting up the cement covers in front of their houses to read the water meter.
This coastal city best known for its surfers, redwood trees and historic boardwalk amusement park has put in place some of the toughest rules in the state to conserve water during the drought — mandatory water rationing for every home, with hefty fines and “Water School” for violators. There’s even a ban on filling hot tubs.
And if California doesn’t receive a healthy soaking of rain this winter after three years of historic drought, dozens of other cities may soon be following suit, experts say.