The Latest: California water conservation drops

FRESNO, Calif. – The Latest on California water conservation (all times local):

10 a.m.

Californians conserved less water in June, the first month after statewide mandates were eased.

The State Water Resources Control Board reported Tuesday that Californians used 21.5 per cent less water in June than they did in 2013, a drop of 6 percentage points from a year earlier.

Board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus says a dip in conservation was expected after local water leaders were put back in charge of the effort.

A near-average amount of winter rain and snowfall eased the dry spell, prompting regulators to abandon top-down conservation orders. Community leaders throughout California pushed for more say.

Water board officials say the state has cumulatively conserved 24 per cent of water over the last 13 months, close to the 25 per cent target.

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12:25 a.m.

State regulators say most communities in drought-stricken California remained on target for saving water in June, the first month that put local leaders back in charge of conservation.

State water regulators on Tuesday will release figures as California endures its fifth year of drought.

Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, says there’s a dip in savings, but Californians overall are using less water than before the drought.

A near-average amount of winter rain and snowfall eased the dry spell, prompting regulators to abandon top-down conservation orders.

Community leaders throughout California pushed for more say.

William Murray, spokesman for Southern California’s Garden Grove, says cities like his invested in projects that make them drought-resilient.

He says they deserve more control over how much water they must save.