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Agency To Update Drought Plan Mandating Water Cuts In Cities

SACRAMENTO (AP) — California water regulators are postponing release of a new plan to get cities to reduce water use by as much as a third.

The State Water Resources Control Board says its plan will be released Saturday for how cities will be asked to comply with Gov. Jerry Brown's order to save water statewide.

The board previously announced water use reduction targets for communities based on per-capita use, but cities are already blasting the plan as unfair and unrealistic.

Some agencies say the state is ignoring longtime conservation efforts and higher demand for water in hot-weather areas. Water use is measured compared to 2013, the year before Brown declared a drought emergency.

Agencies that don't take steps to conserve or reduce water use could face fines from state regulators.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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