California exceeds water conservation goals in first month of drought cutbacks

California regulators said on Thursday that water use fell by 27% in June, passing the governor’s conservation target in the first month of mandatory cutbacks during the drought.

Data released on Thursday by the State Water Resources Control Board shows 265 out of 411 local agencies hit or nearly reached savings targets.

Governor Jerry Brown previously ordered an overall 25% reduction in urban water use. His administration gave each community nine months to hit assigned conservation targets as high as 36%.

Cities that fail to hit those marks could face state-ordered conservation measures and fines.

Some communities opposed the targets assigned by the State Water Resources Control Board, calling the goals unfair and unrealistic. Agencies that don’t meet targets face fines and state-ordered conservation measures such as a limit on how many days a week residents can water lawns.

California’s largest cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose, previously released figures for June showing strong water conservation.

San Diego was among the cities that said the state should give it credit for past drought-preparation efforts that included paying for desalinated water. The city said water use plunged 24% in June, well past its 16% target.

Robyn Bullard, a spokeswoman for the public utilities department, credited a campaign that included television commercials and an email blast to customers.

Some large communities in the San Francisco Bay Area reported savings were nearly double what the state ordered.

San Francisco reported saving 20% after it was given just an 8% conservation target because it has one of California’s lowest per-capita water use rates.

The East Bay municipal utility district, serving more than a million customers east of San Francisco, said it saved 31% in June, almost double its target.

San Jose Water Co reported that its customers reduced consumption by 35% in June, compared to the 20% goal.

Regulators told residents that letting lawns go brown is the best way to save water.