It must be important if the legislator’s are working on a Sunday! On Sunday, October 11, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pushed California state representatives to come to an agreement over the water crisis in California. Another bone of contention which dominated the conversation rested on the fate of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Since tighter restrictions were placed on water use around the delta in order to protect supposedly endangered fish, residents of California, particularly those hit hardest around the Central Valley, pushed back to ease the restrictions affecting their water use.

It was declared on Sunday that CA elected officials would be working towards easing the restrictions on the Northern California delta, though nothing has officially been agreed to. As a result, state representatives are expected to draft pieces of legislation to secure the future of smarter water use across the state, through measures like water infrastructure updates and increased conservation awareness and planning.

More so now than ever, it is terribly important to understand the value of water conservation. In parched states such as California, Nevada, parts of Utah and Florida, water is a precious commodity needed by all, and not existing everywhere it is needed. Combined with high temperatures, man-made water restrictions and three-year-long droughts, the citizens of California have a unique need to save as much water as possible, for the sake of long-term sustainability. Every citizen can help conserve water in many ways. If lawmakers are successful, this could spell significant changes not only for many CA industries that rely heavily on water, but for all residents. Whether by shutting off the sink when brushing your teeth, only running full loads of clothes in the clothes washer or by installing a smart irrigation controller like Cyber-Rain, every person can do a little to start conserving.