Other Views: Saving water a year-round commitment

As the summer months wane into September, Marysville and Yuba City residents know only too well that warmer weather usually brings increased outdoor water use.But they may not know just how tight water supplies are this year. In fact, we're in the middle of a water crisis. But by using water wisely, we can make a difference.

A recently announced public education program called "Save Our Water" can help us become better stewards of this precious resource. Developed by the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, Save Our Water is designed to complement local conservation efforts while encouraging residents all over California to increase water conservation.

Ample supplies of high quality water are a necessity for California, a fact well known to Central Valley farmers, city-dwellers, scholars and business leaders. Yet the San Luis reservoir, which serves much of the Central Valley, is only one-third full.

Water supply is a huge challenge up and down the state. Our water agencies are responding with vigorous leadership. Currently, 65 water agencies across California have implemented some kind of mandatory limitations on water use. Fifty-seven, including the Browns Valley Irrigation District, have requested voluntary measures for conservation from residents.

There's a great deal at stake. Water is a vital ingredient in assuring a high quality of life in our cities and towns.Water has been a necessity in California since the Mission era. It is ever more important in our modern, populous California, particularly since many major water reservoirs are at critically low capacities.

In addition to a third year of dry weather, California water users in 2009 also face several allied challenges, including climate change, aging infrastructure, population growth and legal protections for species. These contribute to the cyclical water challenges of nature.

On a daily basis, we use far more water outdoors than indoors.Simply reducing the number of times we water lawns and adjusting sprinklers to avoid waste can help. Indoors, we can save a lot by fixing leaks, taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet while brushing tee

California's leaders are working to develop lasting solutions to our water system problems, some of which involve the environmentally challenged Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Plans include increased investments in the state's water infrastructure and environmental protections with focus in the Delta, a key source for both the Federal Central Valley Project and California's State Water Project.

Meantime, all Californians need to use our existing water supplies efficiently.Each of us should do all we can to save water. Conservation will help stretch current and future water supplies as we move forward with necessary improvements to our overall water system.

Please join in this vital effort to save California water. Take a few moments to look critically at how you use water inside and outside of your home. By taking common sense steps to save water, we can make a difference for California.

Lester Snow is the director of the California Department of Water Resources. Timothy Quinn is the executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies, a coalition of 450 public water agencies.

For more information about how to conserve water or about the Save Our Water public education program, visit www.saveourh2o.org or join the effort on Facebook or Twitter.