Fairgoers Pledge to Save Nearly 13 Million Gallons of Water per Month

SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - September 14, 2009) - Californians visiting the 2009 State Fair pledged to save nearly 13 million gallons of water per month at home, according to a tally of pledges taken at the "Save Our Water" exhibit at the fair. The exhibit, a joint effort of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), drew more than 9,000 visitors over the course of the fair, which ran from Aug. 21 to Sept. 7.

Fairgoers who took the pledge were asked to commit to simple water-saving actions around the house, including taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing their teeth, and washing only full loads of laundry. The pledges were tallied last week.

"This kind of response shows that Californians understand our state is in a water crisis," said DWR Director Lester Snow. "As we prepare for a potential fourth year of drought, it is critical that Californians get serious about conserving water."

The 4,000-square-foot exhibit featured educational information about the state's water problems, including interactive games and age-appropriate information for children. The exhibit was highlighted at the fair's "Save Our Water Day" on Sept. 1, and the first 1,000 visitors through the gates that day received free water conservation grab-bags with shower timers, water-saving tips and other information.

"It is very gratifying to see the response to our call for conservation at the State Fair's Save Our Water exhibit. It shows that the conservation message is getting through," said Timothy Quinn, ACWA's executive director. "Water conservation is a major priority for local water agencies, and the public is responding. As we move into the new water year -- which may again be a dry one -- it is critical that we continue to help Californians do what they can to reduce their water use."

DWR and ACWA, the state's leading water organization, launched the Save Our Water program in April in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's statewide emergency drought proclamation in February. Patterned after the successful "Flex Your Power" public education program, the program aims to provide ongoing education for Californians about the state's water challenges and encourages greater water conservation.

Though there will not be any official tracking of the water-saving pledges, state and local water agencies will continue to closely monitor conservation achievements around the state. Local agencies have reported water use reductions ranging from 9 percent to 19 percent over last year. In Los Angeles, water use is at a 32-year low.

The 2009 Water Year Ends This Month

The 2009 water year ends Sept. 30, marking the end of a third consecutive year of drought for the state. As it stands, cumulative storage for major reservoirs in California is at 70 percent of average for this time of year, with many of the state's larger reservoirs at extremely low levels. Nearly every major reservoir is below its historical average for water storage, and the majority of them are at less than half of their capacity. (Lake Oroville, for example, is at 39 percent of capacity; Lake Shasta is at 43 percent; and San Luis Reservoir is at 19 percent.)

For more information about the "Save Our Water" program and ways to conserve water, visit www.saveourh2o.org or follow the program on Facebook or Twitter. For more information about ACWA, visit www.acwa.com. To learn more about the Department of Water Resources, visit www.water.ca.gov.

Contact Information: Media contacts: Jennifer Persike Association of California Water Agencies 916-441-4545 916-296-3981 (cell) Matt Notley Department of Water Resources 916-651-7242 916-216-8622 (cell)