Decoupling: A Key Solution To California's Water Supply Risks

Lori Anne Dolqueist authored the article "Decoupling: A Key Solution To California's Water Supply Risks" (subscription required).

The article opens, "The future social, economic, and cultural success of California depends on a steady supply of safe, reliable, and affordable water. California's water supply is increasingly at risk as it confronts more frequent and extreme droughts and floods, rising temperatures, aging infrastructure, and other challenges made more acute by climate change. The California Department of Water Resources estimates that the state could face a 10% water supply shortfall by 2040 due to hotter and drier weather conditions.

In light of these challenges, the need for conservation has grown even more acute. On July 3, 2024, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a regulation to make conservation a California way of life. The Board developed the regulation after a multi-year process in which it sought input from water