A new survey of the nation's water use shows that the country is using less water and California is among the states doing a good job of conserving.
The survey found per capita water use in the United States dropped sharply between 2005 and 2010.
Heather Cooley is a co-author of the report and she works for The Pacific Institute, a think tank that studies water issues.
Cooley said a review of federal water usage numbers showed consumption fell 17 percent in those five years and while energy production accounted for the most water use, there were improvements made in that area.
"Both renewables and efficiencies help do that so that's one way in which our energy system is becoming more resilient to droughts and other water supply constraints," Cooley said.
Water use fell nationally during the five year period even though the population and economy grew over that period.
"We have appliance and building codes that require more efficient appliances and fixtures," Cooley said. "There's also been shifts in our economy. Shifting from a more manufacturing, more water intensive economy, to a more water thrifty service economy."
California's per capita water use still ranks the state in the top 10, according to Cooley. That's in part due to the state having such a large and thirsty agricultural sector.
