So you've heard, or in case you haven't, California is in a drought. Governor Schwarzenegger has declared a State of Emergency for Sacramento County, among others, because water levels are so low. The water year that ended on September 30, 2008, was classified by officials at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as "critically dry."

In fact, the months of March to September 2008 were the driest on record for the Northern Sierra, which only received 3.5 inches of rainfall, a mere 23 percent of the average. Also, the major state reservoirs are only holding about 1/3 of their capacity when a normal year would fill them to about 2/3 of capacity. Most significant for Sacramento residents, the Sacramento River system, as well as the San Joaquin River system, are classified as "Critical" for this water year.

This is a crisis that is affecting the whole world, but the signs are especially clear in Sacramento, California. This means that we all need to reassess our water consumption habits and aspire to use and waste less. Already, consumers who receive their water from the Central Valley Project, including many regions in the Sacramento area, have seen cuts to their water supply of 25 percent, and contracts for agricultural water customers were cut by 60 percent. The City of Sacramento owns senior rights on the water obtained from both the Sacramento and American rivers, so residents don't have to worry about the immediate threat of enforced water restrictions like those recently imposed on the residents of Folsom and Roseville.

Jessica Hess, a city spokeswoman with the Department of Utilities, has said, "The city of Sacramento is in a very fortunate position because of our senior rights. The folks who have junior rights are the first to lose their water in a dry year." Despite this fortunate position, there is a city code,13.04.860, active during all years, wet and dry alike, which demands socialresponsibilityby specifying appropriate and inappropriate uses of water.

There are so many ways that you can conserve water just by adjusting your simple day-to-day habits. Notletting the sink runwhile you brush your teeth, only running a full load of clothes in the washing machineand reducing shower times are alleasy ways to conserve water. If you don't know how much water you are using, try calculating your water-footprint using the free water calculator! Below is a complete list of conservation tips for both indoor and outdoor activities. Try implementing just a few at a time as a way to ween yourself off the wasteful water practices that are so pervasive in our society. Old habits die hard, but the stakes are high and the costs of extreme drought are sure to be higher, so we must all work together to conserve our precious water.

Outside Water Use

(from Regional Water Authority - RWA)

- Use a shut-off nozzle instead of letting the hose run.

- Avoid water-wasting run-off - don't water sidewalks, driveways or gutters.

- Maintain your irrigation system - frequently check for leaks, clogs or misdirected sprinklers and emitters.

* Check for leaks by shutting off all faucets, spigots and other water fixtures. If the triangular-shaped leak detector on your water meter is still turning, you probably have a leak.

- Water outdoors between midnight and 10 a.m. to avoid peak energy hours and minimize the sun's evaporating effect. Avoid peak water use hours between the hours of 5 and 8:00 a.m.

- Water with the weather - turn off your sprinkler system during the rainy season or install a rain sensor to automatically shut off your sprinklers when it is raining.

- Group plants with similar water, soil and sun exposure needs.

- Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation and water-stealing weeds.

- Reduce lawn size, and incorporate water efficient plants into your landscape. (For a list of drought tolerant plants native to the Sacramento area visit the following: Drought Tolerant California Native Shrubs)

(from Sacramento County Water Agency - SCWA)

- Sweep it, don't wash it away - when cleaning up dead leaves, dirt and debris, use a broom rake or leaf blower on sidewalks, driveways and patios rather than a hose. Wash down paved surfaces only to alleviate immediate fire or sanitation hazards.

- Stat: One leaky drip per second wastes 6,000 gallons of water per year.

Inside Water Use

(from RWA)

- Install a low-flow showerhead (save up to 800 gallons a month)

- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth (save up to 10 gallons/day)

- Install ultra-low flush toilets (save 10-40 gallons a day)

- Run only full loads of laundry and dishes (save up to 800 gallons/month)

- Use high-efficiency washing machines (save more than 16 gallons/load)

- Repair a leaky faucet (save up to 429 gallons/month) (According to Pacific Institute, approximately 12% of indoor water use is actually the result of waste from leaks.)

- Install a low-flow faucet aerator (save more than 140 gallons/month)

- Fix toilet leaks (save up to 500 gallons/day!!)

(from SCWA)

- Turn off the water while soaping up in the shower.