California Governor Orders Mandatory Water Cuts

While the U.S. Midwest and East Coast struggled with record snowfalls this winter, California experienced its lowest snowpack in recent history.

今年冬天美国中西部和东海岸遭遇创纪录的强降雪时，加利福尼亚州却经历了近年来最低降雪量。

"We’re in a historic drought and that demands unprecedented action, and for that reason I’m issuing an executive order mandating substantial water reduction across our state," said California governor Jerry Brown.

“我们正在经历前所未有的干旱，需要采取非正常行动来应对。因此发布行政命令要求大幅度降低全州的用水量。”加州州长杰瑞·布朗说道。

The executive order issued by the governor Wednesday requires the State Water Resources Control Board to reduce water use by 25 percent across California. Governor Brown said 38 million people will be affected. The measure is expected to save hundreds of thousands of liters of water over nine months.

上周三，该州长发布行政命令要求州水资源管理委员会在全州境内节水25%。州长布朗称，3800万人将受到影响。这项措施有望在9个月内节约成千上万升水。

The mandatory water rationing is unprecedented in the United States, and some Californians are against it, saying that water saving should be voluntary. But previous measures to fight a persistent drought have not improved the situation. The governor warned residents to be prepared to change their lifestyle.

在美国，没有强制节水的先例，部分加州人反对这项节水令，声称节水应当是自愿的。但之前的措施应对持续干旱没有收到成效，州长预先对民众发出通告，要做好准备改变生活方式。

“The idea of your nice little green grass getting lots of water every day - that’s going to be a thing of the past, and we’re not going to change everything overnight, but we are in a transition period," said Brown.

“之前你们漂亮的草坪每天需要大量水来灌溉，但现在需要改变观念了，这不是一时能改变的，但我们现在处于过渡时期。”布朗说道。

The transition already has started in extremely hot parts of southern California. Instead of watering their lawns to keep them green during the summer, many homeowners are now hiring companies that will paint them green.

这种过渡转变在极度干旱的加州南部已经开始了。夏天，很多家庭不再给他们的草坪浇水，而是雇佣公司将草坪刷成绿色。

"You don’t have to water it as much with the drought and everything; we’re all supposed to conserve water. This is a good idea," said Marta Gomez, a homeowner. A Lucky Lawn company, specializing in spray painting dried-out lawns, claims the paint is actually good for the grass because it protects the blades from harmful ultra-violet rays.

“这样在干旱的时候，你就不需要浇水了，我们都应当节约用水，这是一个好方法。”房主玛尔塔·戈麦斯说道。一家名为幸运草坪的公司专门从事干草喷漆工作，宣称该油漆对草坪很好，因为其保护草叶免受紫外线伤害。

"100 percent non-toxic. Once it’s dry, animals, kids, the whole family can go out and enjoy the yard," said Drew Mclellan, founder of A Lucky Lawn.

“(油漆)是百分之百无毒的，等油漆干了，宠物、孩子、整个家庭都能享受绿色的庭院。”幸运绿草公司创始人德鲁?麦克莱伦说道。

California farmers are especially affected by the drought. A group of mathematicians is trying to help. Governor Brown said California is a pioneering state where people have come together to build a better life, and that, he said, requires conservation, collaboration and innovation.

加州的农民受干旱影响最大，一群科学家正努力提供帮助解决问题。州长布朗说道，加利福尼亚是富有开创精神的地方，人们最开始来到这里的时候，是希望打造更美好的生活，现在，我们需要节约、协作和创新。

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来源:英语新闻爱语吧作者:Sunmore