California proclaims emergency to drought and urges citizens to save water

“While states west of the United States face the third potential year of drought, it is imperative that Californians across the country double our efforts to save water in any possible way, Newsom stressed.

While most of California's 58 counties have been in a drought emergency since July, Newsom's announcement added the last eight remaining districts and appealed for citizens to voluntarily reduce water use by 15%.

The statement comes when state water officials announced that California residents reduced water consumption by 5 percent in August, a modest improvement from July, when the state interrupted their use by 1.8 percent, reports ATS.

The eight circuits added to the emergency statement include Los Angeles and Orange circuits, as well as the rest of Southern California and San Francisco.