It's something many of us take for granted...having enough water every day. But the state of California is coming up dangerously short.
Governor Jerry Brown has even imposed mandatory water restrictions for the first time in the state's history because it has gotten so bad.
Sara Sidner takes an inside look.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
CALIFORNIA IS GOING DRY….
(JERRY BROWN/CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR)
"People should realize we're in a new era. The idea of your nice little green grass getting lots of water everyday that's gonna be a thing of the past."
THE NEW EDICT: MANDATORY STATEWIDE WATER RESTRICTIONS...INCLUDING CHANGING…50 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF CALIFORNIA'S THIRSTY GRASS LAWNS
TO DROUGHT RESISTANT ZERO SCAPES... A REBATE PROGRAM MAKES IT FREE.
(Andrew Farrell/Turf Terminators) "Because of that program we've come up with a way for homeowners to get this service for free and we think because of that this could catch fire and really help California."
THE PLAN ALSO CALLS FOR A 25 PERCENT REDUCTION IN URBAN POTABLE WATER USAGE AND AGRICULTURE MUST PROVIDE A WATER USAGE PLAN.
SCIENTISTS SAY THESE ACTIONS CAN'T HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH.
(Jay Famiglietti, Senior Water Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory ) "California has about one year of water left in it's in it's reservoirs on the surface."
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL VICKI YORBA HOW BAD IT IS, THE RETIREE LIVES IT EVERY DAY IN CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY.
(Vickie Yorba/East Porterville, California Resident)
"They say you never miss a well until the water runs dry. It's true. Who would have ever thought that I wouldn't have any water?"
IN EAST PORTERVILLE DRY WELLS HAVE LEFT ABOUT 5-THOUSAND PEOPLE WITHOUT RUNNING WATER IN THEIR HOMES…
NOTHING IS SPARED.
AT ONE OF THE STATES LARGEST RESERVOIRS THE DRY RINGS REVEAL WHERE THE WATER LEVEL WAS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
(Sara Sidner/Flat Pine Lake) "The water is receding so quickly even GPS is having trouble keeping up. According to this, we should be submerged in deep water right now."
THE WATER CRISES IMPACTING EVERYTHING FROM PEOPLE TO THE PRODUCE AND NUTS THE WORLD HAS COME TO RELY ON..
IF THE DROUGHT DOES ITS WORST ...IT COULD TURN THE PART OF AMERICA REFERRED TO AS THE WORLD'S SALAD BOWL INTO A SAND PIT...
SARA SIDNER, CNN, TULARE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
One California woman is taking a unique approach to water conservation. Robin Weld has installed an unusual fixture in her home - a combination sink and toilet. Weld ordered the item from Japan.
She says it saves ten gallons of water or more every day. The system is completely sanitary. The water that comes to the sink is routed in through its own pipe and then is recycled into the toilet.