California weighs permanent restrictions for water wasters

State officials are considering whether to adopt a range of permanent restrictions against wasting water as signs point again to fears that California may be creeping into drought.

The restrictions include prohibitions on watering lawns so much that the water flows into the street, using a hose to wash down sidewalks, or using a hose without an automatic shut-off nozzle to wash cars.

Many of those rules were temporarily imposed during California’s historic drought from 2013 to 2017. The state Water Resources Control Board is scheduled to vote Tuesday on making such restrictions permanent.

U.S. drought monitors last week declared nearly half the state, all of it in Southern California, is now back in drought.

Most of the restrictions would take effect in April.