VOA常速英语2015--加州连年干旱开始限制用水（在线收听）

California Shifts Water Use in Face of Drought 加州连年干旱开始限制用水

LOS ANGELES—

California Governor Jerry Brown residents of the state must reduce their water consumption by 25 percent to cope with a major drought, and local communities are drawing up new restrictions.  Residents, businesses and water agencies are already making changes.

This is the fourth year in a row of below average rainfall, which has created moderate to extreme drought conditions.  Bill McDonald of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California says new restrictions should save a precious resource that is drying up.

“Right now, we rely on a lot of snow and rain, and that is not happening," said McDonald.

Some of the state's water comes from northern California and moves through aqueducts to the farm rich Central Valley and water-hungry cities in the south.  

Farms uses 80 percent of the state's water to produce much of the nation's fruit, vegetables and nuts.  Farming is largely exempt from the new restrictions, but many farms have seen their water allocations cut to zero.  

They use groundwater for crops, and new rules for pumping it may help preserve the water table, which is being depleted quickly in some places.

Analyst Caitrin Chappelle of the Public Policy Institute of California says the public wants stronger conservation measures.

“Our recent survey asked the question, do you think local and state government is doing enough about the drought.  And we saw the majority said no," said Chappelle.

Among new rules already in place, restaurants will face fines if they offer water to customers who have not asked for it.  At a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles, owner Gilberto Cetina says the rule will save more than just drinking water.

“It is the water, it is the ice, the electricity you use to make the ice, the cut when you give the water, or if you use glasses, the water you use to wash the glass," said Cetina.

Californians say they want to help.

“We can just do what we can, turn off the water in between brushing our teeth," said one.

Major water users, such as golf courses, will face new restrictions, and local communities are drawing up rules to meet the target of a 25 percent reduction by next year.

Some homeowners are being paid to tear out grass and to landscape with drought-tolerant native plants.  

Bill McDonald says more homeowners are installing efficient drip irrigation systems.

“And that is the future.  That is where we are going, because putting drinking water on a landscape that is ornamental is not a good use of resources," he said.

Other new restrictions will be coming for businesses and public agencies, as well as to residents.  Restaurateur Gilberto Cetina says he is doing his part, and has already tried charging his customers for water.

“I got 10 customers mad and I stopped it.  But I think we can do it now.  I think now is the right time to do it," he said.

Analysts say there is no single solution to California's water shortage, but education, better planning and conservation will help the state get through its periodic droughts.  

They say long-term solutions include recycling waste water and strengthening the distribution system, using pricing to encourage more efficient water use and using technology to reduce waste. 

美国加州州长布朗为他决定农民不受强制性限水措施进行辩解。加州历史性的干旱正在加剧。

布朗州长星期天告诉美国广播公司“本周”节目说，加州农民生产美国在向世界上很多地区提供的大部分水果和蔬菜。

但是他表示会重新审视一项已经有一个世纪之久的州法律。这项法律允许加州农民比其他人支付较低的水费。他称这个法律系统“过时”。

加州干旱已经进入第四年，绝大部分地区处于专家所称的罕见干旱之中。布朗上周下令对全州居民和企业实施强制限水措施。违反规定的人将面临高额罚款。

布朗签署行政令的后一天，有一项新的报告称，到2050年，气候变化，海平面上升，沿海房产消失，不断升高的气温和持续干旱导致农田变干，将给加州造成数十亿美元的损失。