Californians should take shorter showers, wash only full loads of laundry and use a broom instead of a hose to clean their driveways.
Those are some of the steps the state is promoting as part of a $4 million statewide public education campaign begun Tuesday.
State Natural Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman says the "Save Our Water" campaign responds to the water shortages facing many farmers and cities around the state. California is in a third year of below-average precipitation.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide water emergency in February and called for voluntary conservation. Spokesman Matt David declined to say Tuesday whether the governor supports mandatory water conservation.
The Association of California Water Agencies is paying half the campaign's cost. Information can be found online at www.saveourH2O.org.
