California lifts water conservation order after wet winter – but drought isn't over

Districts with nearly 40m will compare water supply and demand assuming that dry conditions will stretch for three years, but some say it's a tough decision

California decided Wednesday to allow hundreds of local water districts to set their own conservation goals after a wet winter eased the five-year drought in some parts of the state.

The new approach lifts a statewide conservation order enacted last year that requires at least a 20% savings.