Representatives with Cal Water say its customers are being put on individual water budgets, with the hope of reducing consumption by 32 percent or more in Bakersfield.

District manager Rudy Valles says the reduction value will be based on how much is used during the same month in 2013.

“Next month, you’ll see a water budget amount on your bill and you must stay within that budget,” he said.

Customers that exceed their budget will be placed into a penalty tier, while savings below the budget can be rolled over into next month.

June will serve as a grace period. Enforcement will start in July.

The agency has also opted to not restrict the draining and refilling of residential below-ground swimming pools, spas and hot tubs. The regulations were scheduled to kick in Monday.

Valles said regulators were unsure as to how much water those restrictions would have saved.

– Anthony Pollreisz