With California officially in a drought emergency, Gov. Jerry Brown is asking everyone to take a look at their daily habits and reduce consumption by 20 percent.

“We can’t make it rain, but we can be much better prepared for the terrible consequences that California’s drought now threatens, including dramatically less water for our farms and communities and increased fires in both urban and rural areas,” Brown said at a news conference from his San Francisco office in January. “I’ve declared this emergency and I’m calling all Californians to conserve water in every way possible.”

Tips for conserving water indoors:

Bathroom
• Take five minute showers instead of 10 minute showers. Save:  12.5 gallons with a low flow showerhead, 25 gallons with a standard 5.0 gallon per minute showerhead.
• Turn water off when brushing teeth or shaving. Save: Approximately 10 Gallons/Day
• Turn off the water while washing your hair and save up to 150 gallons a month.
• When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
• Take a (short) shower instead of a bath. A bathtub can use up to 70 gallons of water.

Kitchen
• Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
• Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
• Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.
• Don’t use running water to thaw food.   Defrost food in the refrigerator.

Tips for conserving water outdoors:
• Water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler.   Save: 25 gallons/each time you water
• Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street. Save: 15-12 gallons/each time you water
• Plant drought-resistant trees and plants. Save: 30- 60 gallons/each time you water/1,000 sq. ft
• Don’t over-water

Read more on the Save Our Water campaign website.

What are you doing to conserve water? Leave more tips in our comments section.