Despite a near record heat wave of nine connective days of 100 degree plus temperatures and the city adding nearly 4,000 residents in the past four years, Manteca reduced June water use by 23 percent over June 2013 levels.
Even though the drought was declared officially over in April by Gov. Brown, it has been made clear by state and local leaders that conservation is the new norm.
There are three reasons for that:
uThere has finally been the realization after the fourth major drought since 1976-77, that climatologists are likely correct that the period between 1850 and 1975 in California in terms of snow and rain was probably an aberration meaning the state is more susceptible to drought that most people have believed.
uNew state mandates require all users of groundwater in specific basins to develop a net zero policy meaning in a given year they cannot pump out more water than an aquifer takes in.
uManteca — as well as other cities that rely on water from the Stanislaus, Merced, and Tuolumne watersheds could be hit hard of the state succeeds  in commandeering 360,000 acre feet of water between February and June each year to improve fish flows. It could, in a normal water year, reduce Manteca’s surface water supply by at least 20 percent.
Manteca used 488 million gallons of water last month. That compares to 632 million gallons in June of 2013. The state selected 2013 as the benchmark year for cities to shoot for in terms of water savings.
In the first six months of the year, Manteca has reduced water use by 28 percent over 2013 levels.

 Manteca’s water rules
The stricter water rules that were adopted for Manteca residents and businesses 25 months are as follows:
uNo irrigation is allowed during or within 48 hours following measurable rainfall as defined by storms that generate run-off or puddles.
uNo watering is allowed on Monday or any day between noon and 6 p.m. Watering for even addresses on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday while odd addresses can water on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
uNo water will be allowed on any day at any time for washing off sidewalks, driveways, patios, parking lots or other exterior non-landscaped areas without a permit obtained from the Manteca Public Works Department office at the Civic Center.
uNo water will be allowed to flow into a gutter or other drainage area for longer than 5 minutes. All water leaks or malfunctions in plumbing or irrigation systems must be fixed with 24 hours.
Penalties include a written notice on the first violation, a $100 fine with applicable fees on the second violation that may be waived by attending a water conservation workshop; a $200 fine and applicable fees on the third violation; and $500 fines for each and every subsequent application plus applicable fees.