Politics

Bakersfield Orders 15 Percent Water Cut for Major Commercial Users by 2027

The measure sets a 15 percent reduction target for large commercial water users in Bakersfield starting in 2027.

By Bakersfield Policy Desk · Published July 8, 2026

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Bakersfield Orders 15 Percent Water Cut for Major Commercial Users by 2027 — Photo by blmcalifornia / flickr (pdm)

The Bakersfield City Council voted 5-2 on July 7 to approve an ordinance that requires commercial properties using more than 2 million gallons of water per year to cut consumption by 15 percent within two years. The rule applies to businesses such as hotels, car washes and food processing plants along routes including Highway 99 and Rosedale Highway.

The vote follows a June report from the Kern County Water Agency that showed commercial accounts in the city drew an average of 2.8 million gallons monthly during the prior fiscal year. Similar requirements already operate in Fresno, where a 10 percent cut took effect in 2024, and in Visalia, which set a 20 percent goal with partial grant support for equipment upgrades.

Effects on Bakersfield businesses and households

Property owners inside city limits will face new retrofit deadlines for fixtures and irrigation systems. A typical downtown hotel on 19th Street could spend between $18,000 and $35,000 on low-flow valves and smart meters, according to the council's staff analysis attached to the July 7 agenda. Those costs may appear in higher room rates or service charges for local customers.

Residents who work at affected sites could see changes in shift schedules or hiring levels if companies pass along expenses. The ordinance exempts agricultural processing facilities located outside the urban core but covers any warehouse or distribution center inside the 2023 city boundary map.

The 2026-27 city budget sets aside $1.4 million for a compliance assistance program that offers low-interest loans to qualifying businesses. City staff will conduct random audits beginning March 2027, with fines starting at $500 per day for missed targets.

Next steps for implementation

The Public Works Department will mail compliance packets to 312 identified accounts by September 2026. A first progress report is scheduled for the council's January 2027 meeting, after which the city will decide whether to adjust targets based on actual usage data collected through the new metering system.

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