Nevada City has released a new water conservation rate. This one covers May through mid-July and the city reports a 41-percent reduction, compared to the same period in 2013. That’s just weeks since passing a resolution advancing their shortage to a Stage 3. The resolution officially imposes state mandates, although they are not facing any penalties, because they don’t serve at least 35-hundred customers. The mandates include watering for fewer hours two days a week. Wastewater Treatment Plant supervisor Howard Schmitz says the new percentage also better reflects city efforts, in addition to what residents have been doing…

click to listen to Howard Schmitz

Schmitz also singles out his crews at the wastewater treatment plant…

click to listen to Howard Schmitz

Use reductions for Nevada City had already been in line with the state’s overall mandated conservation rate of 25-percent, about a month ago. But the resolution encourages 35-percent, close to the maximum cutback the state can order for larger urban providers, which is 36-percent. One of those providers is the Nevada Irrigation District, which recently stated that they had already reached 36-percent for June. Schmitz says Nevada City will be releasing monthly numbers, starting later this month.