RELATED: How much water does the "average" Californian use, and what does a 25% reduction look like?
Reduction levels are literally all over the map, based on previous water use. Of the more than 400 urban water districts across the state, cutbacks range anywhere from 8 to 36 percent of 2013 consumption rates. Thirsty inland regions will be hit hardest, while most coastal cities, including much of the Bay Area and Los Angeles, face significantly lower cuts. The new rules apply to urban water use only, not agriculture.
Districts are not required to force every individual customer in their area to reduce water use by the exact same amount, but they must ensure that district-wide water consumption is reduced by the required percentage to avoid having to pay hefty fines.
In its calculations, the water board also looked at the percentage by which each district has already conserved water since 2013, based on last year's voluntary 20% reduction goal. That amount that can then be subtracted from the total required reduction. However, for cities that actually increased their water use since 2013 (denoted by a negative percentage), the total reduction requirement for the next nine months is that much higher. The board provides its own detailed explanation here.
Mouseover these maps to see what the required cuts will look like for the millions of residents and businesses served by about 400 of California's largest water providers. Note that water districts are plotted by their central location as opposed to the entire geographic area they serve.
Search reduction rates by Bay Area water district (created by CBS SF Bay Area)