The City of Ripon continues to exceed its water conservation goals.
Director of Public Works Ted Johnston reported Monday that the reduction numbers for Ripon at last count was at 41.5 percent.
Those were the figures posted last month when compared to December 2013.
“Our total 12 month running annual reduction average is 32.31 percent,” he said.
Not too long ago, City Council voted on a monthly goal for all residents at 30 percent during these drought conditions.
The recent wet weather along with the city’s installation of water meters at all homes has contributed to the strong reduction numbers, according to Johnston.
“Last year in December, we were at 32.15 percent and with a 12 month running reduction average of 26.28 percent,” he said.
The State Water Resources Control Board in Sacramento has been encouraged with the recent rains in Northern California.
In a recent news release: “Much of the state has not recovered from the severe drought conditions that have persisted for the past four years. Moreover, measurements by the Department of Water Resources indicate that the statewide snowpack is about 70 percent of average for early January.”
The State Water Board will continue to monitor conservation levels and water supply conditions.
Chairperson Felicia Marcus, for one, has been impressed with another month of impressive increases in conservation throughout Northern California.
“Californians are continuing to conserve, which is the way it should be, given that we can’t know what the future will bring but we know that we can’t take water for granted anymore,” she said.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.