Re:California's dry season is turning into a permanent state...
by epistasis on Sunday August 15, 2021 @02:19PM
(#28190981)
But the idea that new housing is connected to increased water usage does not, as they say, hold water.
https://santacruzlocal.org/2021/02/15/does-more-housing-mean...
As Santa Cruz's population has increased, water usage goes down. Replacing old inefficient single family homes with terrible appliances and plumbing, with 4x as many people in a multifamily building with highefficiency appliances and faucets, and modern landscaping, will likely reduce water consumption.
I don't know details of the others, but in Santa Cruz water sources are limited to rivers and one small reservoir (Loch Lomond) which is getting low. Concerns about water availability are very real. Without rain all of these could dry up.
https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city-departments/...