California water cuts could continue

In a new executive order, California Governor Jerry Brown stated that if drought conditions continue through January, restrictions on urban potable water usage will stay in effect through the end of October. The original order, issued in April, was only effective through February.

The order also calls on the state water resources and quality control boards to prioritize permits and waivers that would help capture rain and snow this winter and spring.

This year’s El Niño is a big one, and experts are waiting to see what kind of impact that will have on the state. Forecasters are expecting El Niño to be one of the three strongest since 1950, according to the National Weather Service.

El Niño doesn’t usually peak in California until January, February and March, and this year, experts are expecting increased precipitation as late as May.

Brown had earlier mandated that Californians reduce their water consumption by 25 percent this year. Residents responded by reducing water use by 29 percent in May and 27 percent in June.

The order also allocated $5 million for initiatives to provide more reliable, safer and cleaner drinking water to those with fewer than 15 drinking water connections, or homes that use wells.