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Environment

Carlsbad, Fallbrook Miss Water Conservation Targets

A woman works among drought-tolerant plants in her front yard in San Diego, July 9, 2014.
Associated Press
A woman works among drought-tolerant plants in her front yard in San Diego, July 9, 2014.

Most water districts in San Diego County met their state-mandated conservation targets last month, according to figures released Friday by the State Water Resources Board.

The agencies that fell short had some of the highest targets to reach.

In the city of San Diego, customers reduced consumption by 21.7 percent in September, compared to the same month in 2013, the standard for comparison set by state water officials. San Diego's mandated target is 16 percent.

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In the three-month period from July through September, the reduction in San Diego was 24.1 percent. Customers throughout the state overall saved on water by more than 26 percent, exceeding Gov. Jerry Brown's order for a 25 percent cutback for a fourth straight month, the board said.

"Millions of Californians have saved water during the summer months, which are the four most critical months to save water," said Felicia Marcus, chairwoman of the State Water Resources Control Board.

"This is important and wonderful, and we are thankful for all of the effort by individuals and agencies," Marcus said. "Now, we need to keep it up as best we can, even as we hope for as much rain and snow as we can safely handle."

San Diego-area agencies that missed their targets for either September or the cumulative three-month period were:

Carlsbad Municipal Water District, with a cutback target of 28 percent, saved 28.5 percent in September but only 26.7 percent since July.

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San Dieguito Water District, target of 28 percent, saved 24.5 percent last month and 22.3 percent since July.

Fallbrook Public Utility District, target of 36 percent, saved 33.3 percent in September and 28.1 percent cumulatively.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District, target of 32 percent, saved 30.5 percent last month and 32.9 percent over the three-month period.

The Santa Fe Irrigation District, which serves Rancho Santa Fe and Solana Beach, cut back by 38 percent in September and 39.9 percent cumulatively, according to the water board. Residents served by the Santa Fe district were previously criticized for heavy water consumption.

Four agencies in California — Beverly Hills, Indio, Redlands and Coachella — were each fined $61,000 for failing to meet their mandated conservation tier standards.