I should add that we do not have a lawn, have a drip system for the small amount of landscaping we have, have an HE washer and have low flow toilets.

I too use cloth napkins and dish towels and they really have not added to my laundry I still do one medium hot load per week which is what I did prior to my switch over so I think you are ok to keep using them. Maybe shorter or less frequent showers and you could always save a flush if you feel guilty about the cloth usage ;)

My Maytag Bravo top loader (which I love) uses, according to the Maytag website, an average of 18 gallons per load, which is 76% less than the traditional top-load washer. What does it take to wash your cloth alternates? One load a week? Two, even? Water-wise, that is peanuts. I would say well worth that small amount of water, compared to the waste that paper products wreak. Here, the minimum budget for every household is 6 ccf per month, which is 4,488 gallons -- even at that low level, using cloth would be, percent-wise, relatively little water cost. Forego two showers (5 minutes @ 2 gal/minute) for each load of that laundry, if you must, and you're there.

I am in Livermore, by the way, where we were required to reduce water use by 24% (compared to 2013). We reduced our use by 49% during the month of June!

My mother is in OC and going through a similar experience. She's 80+, lives alone in a larger sized home and through the years just became more and more conservative on her own as the drought continued. She's upgraded to water saving appliances and plumbing fixtures including toilets. She really has no idea how she can conserve anymore than she already does. We joke about the fact that at least she has 3 bathrooms she can rotate through and she can buy bottled water instead of using the filter in the fridge, but it's really not funny.

Of course, then you read articles about some idiot actor stealing water from a fire hydrante to water his farm and it's pretty annoying.

Every water district does its own thing, so drought rules for others no doubt differ, but with the California Water Service Co. here in Livermore, you don't need to cut use below 6 ccf (4,488 gallons) per month per household (no matter what your 2013 use was). Six ccf per month is considered the "bare minimum", a rational recognition, on the water company's part, that you can only go so low (though if drought continues and things get really desperate in the future, I have heard that a level of 3 ccf per household would be set -- that would be rough). However, for a single person or a couple with little or no landscape and efficient plumbing and appliances, 6 ccf per month is quite generous, really.

The two of us in this household use just 3 or 4 ccf per month during the winter, when we don't do any landscape irrigation, even without taking extra-special measures to conserve water, though we have always opted for low-flow, low-water-use plumbing and appliances, etc. If that level of use were also true in the summer (unfortunately, lots of landscape here...), our household wouldn't be expected to cut back at all.

The easiest place to cut usually is in landscape irrigation, biggest effect for the conservation effort.

Our local water district is not implementing it as everyone must reduce 25 percent. They have set numbers instead and if you go over them then you pay a LOT more for your water. Are some places really doing a 25 percent reduction by household?

According to the LA Times, CA cut water usage by 27% in June.

Switching back to paper would only help if the napkins and such create a need for a new load a week. If it only adds laundry to the same number of loads, I don't think it will use much more water.

I think the other way to conserve is about reusing what you use, but it depends on how far you want to go. So instead of letting water you run at the sink go down the drain, you can capture the "gray water" and reuse it for watering plants or flushing toilets or cleaning floors or such.

And of course, making sure the DW is stuffed before you run it...

Sponge baths use a lot less water than a shower. According to dermatologists, daily showering isn't the best for your skin anyway.

Reduce, reuse, recycle....in that order...

Paper production takes a lot of water and produces a lot of waste, so even if the production isn't in your back yard, using cloth is probably still in your best interest. Wash them with your regular laundry when possible so as not to produce an extra load?

At the rate washers are "saving" water, it will soon be possible to take your "clean" clothes out of the washer and put them away in the drawer, never having been wet. I now set the timer so that I can fill the washer to wash and fill the washer to rinse. I know when it starts "filling" that it will be agitating and wearing holes in my clothes because there is no water in the tub for the clothes to float in, the agitator blades are just rubbing against the clothes. Go ahead and make these new wonderful machines. I will outsmart them. More effort on my part but I will win. For those of you who don't get dirty, I'm sure these new washers work just fine. I plan to buy an OLD washer either on craigslist or at the local auction. One that actually lets me select how I want the washer to operate. I should have had my old one repaired instead of trading it in. Same amount of money, so he said.

I have an HE washing machine (no agitator) and hate it. I bought it to do my bit for water conservation but have to do the extra rinse cycle just to sort of get the clothes clean.I had to wash my sons hiking socks a second time the other day because they were still so dirty.

We are in a drought situation this year, which is so unusual for us. and I'm trying to do my bit. I no longer throw out the water left in our water bottles if we've been out - it goes in my planters.

Residential water usage in CA is a very very small percentage of the total water usage, with agriculture using the bulk of it. Should we be growing produce that requires large amounts of water in the middle of an arid climate? I drove through the area that grows almonds last year and the only way to grow anything out there is through irrigation, but almonds require very large amounts of water. Why should residential areas be made to bear the brunt of the drought so that certain food producers can make a profit?

We've cut back on watering our landscaping, will probably replace front grass area with artificial grass, house has newer toilets, have front load washer. I am not making any other drastic changes to my water usage so that I can subsidize agriculture.

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I appreciate your thoughts. Some weather predictions are calling for a very wet El Nino winter. Perhaps that will happen and refill the reservoirs.

Of utilized water (an important distinction), agriculture uses roughly 80 - 85% and residential uses about 10%, with the rest going to a variety of industrial uses. The reason for specifying "utilized water" is that Farm Bureau billboards are lately claiming that ag only uses 40%, residential/other uses 10%, and that the environment "uses" 50%. It is true that, somehow, our water projects manage to capture only 50% of all the precipitation that falls in CA each year. But I can't see why the Farm Bureau seems to be begrudging the fish, turtles, and other aquatic animals their share of available water....a throwback to the old idea that any drop of water that actually made it to the Pacific Ocean was "wasted". Taxpayers have subsidized ag water for years: until recently ag paid roughly 1/10 the rate paid by residences and, of course, the big water projects were built mainly to supply ag.

Actually, HE laundry is not exactly a new concept. I am old enough to remember my grandmother doing the laundry with a washboard and rinse tub. Didn't use much water and clothes definitely got worn multiple times before being laundered. When I was 6 years old, they finally got electricity and a wringer washer, which was more or less "HE", too, in that the tub only got filled once for the entire week's laundry. You started out with the whites, washed those, then worked your way through to the darker/dirtier clothes at the end. This was a homesteaded ranch in northern California. The ranch had a very good, very reliable spring, but the water supply wasn't infinite, everyone more or less knew the rate it could be used, and water was used carefully. Old habits die hard for this native Californian.

Even for places in the U.S. without chronic water problems, I imagine HE washers are seen by public utilities as having advantages at the other end, the amount of water that must be handled by sewage systems. Less water needing processed equals less infrastructure needing to be built.

One water saving item I don't see mentioned very often is low flow aerators for faucets.

I'm definitely hoping for a wet winter. In fact, we are planning to re-do our front yard (sod when we bought it, dirt and weeds now because I can't stand to water grass during a drought) this fall. I'm planning drought tolerant plants, including CA natives, but even they will need water to get established. Hoping for winter rains to do that for us.

But even a record rain year won't get us out of this drought. We are too far behind.

Fwiw, I have used he front loaders for over a decade now--even before we lived in CA. They have always gotten my clothes clean--and that includes kid clothes so they are definitely dirty to start with. I do have to soak baseball pants before washing if I want any hope of getting the stains out, but I really think that would be the case no matter what washing method was used.

And, yes, agriculture uses a lot of water. And I can see the point about whether that should be happening in such an arid place. But that doesn't make me feel any better about watering grass. At least agriculture is producing food. I have pretty much decided that the only plants I would be willing to regularly water over the long haul in my yard would be food-producing plants and my small window box.

And in case anyone is interested, I would research artificial turf before using it. It makes the air above it hotter; it causes water to run off faster rather than soaking into the ground; it has a limited life span and cannot be recycled at the end of it; and it does not sustain any insect, bird or other wildlife. Some local water districts that offer rebates for replacing grass lawns with less thirsty options will not give those rebates for artificial turf for those reasons.

While I do not live in CA any longer, I do live in the southwest and am married to a man involved in water rights/issues. I take water use very seriously. After spending much time deliberating, we decided it was still better to use cloth diapers and wash them and to use re-usable products for cleaning (we do use paper towels now that there is a puppy in the house, but only for puppy messes and draining bacon). We strove to maintain sanitary conditions but use things as much as possible. If a dishtowel has only been used for drying dishes, it may be hung to dry instead of thrown in the basket. Bath towels are used more than once. Face clothes are washed after every use. There are lots of ways to save water and I do not really feel that using disposable products instead of cloth would net that great of savings.

On the almond note, I did read a fascinating article that took a different perspective on the growing of almonds. It may have been from the LA Times, but I cannot find it now. Still, an important discussion to be had.

Kudos to you, Fun2bhere, for being such a thoughtful citizen. I wish everyone were as considered as you are. I concur that the reusable linens are still the better choice, but mostly I'm impressed that you've waded in that deeply with your thinking.

It's good news that by and large, Californians have been successful in reducing their water usage by 25%. Think about how amazing that is, and what broad-scale cooperation that takes. I was wondering about all the factors that made this possible, and what lessons can be learned for other types of conservation. It seems like on this issue a lot of powerful forces were aligned so that people's collective behavior significantly changed. As in, pricing structure from the water providers, government regulations, social pressure, public education, a lot of dire warnings about the consequences of not conserving, and the rest of the country watching you very closely. And it worked!

So if we're wondering what it really takes to change consumers' behavior, now we have one interesting example. Good stuff.

And yes, I know that agriculture uses more water, and of course water could be saved there too. But I'm celebrating good environmental news while we have it! :)

crl, yes, the artificial grass has benefits and drawbacks. We have a "large" lot for the LA area and already have a large front area with an impressive cactus garden. Not much else we can do with the front grass areas between the house and driveway. We are still pretty green thanks to the grey/damp weather we had a few weeks back, but it won't last with the higher temps coming Aug through Oct. The artificial grass would simply be for aesthetic reasons and have the front of the house look like it is supposed to look ... green and not dead/brown! I would rather redirect that water towards the back lawn, used by kids and the dog. I'm not worried about rebates, since I don't usually apply for those if I can afford the project.

Every morning I run the dishcloths and pick them out before the cycle ends. Then I put in the towels and pick them out the same way. Then the cleaner clothes like my white cotton skirts or blouses and finally jeans and then socks. I read books while all this is going on. Everything gets rinsed outside in a bucket and dumped on the plants. I spin it all in the washer and line dry the towels and delicates. The rest goes in the dryer. I like cotton napkins and would not return to paper. Good for you trying to do the right thing. I can't always wash this way but I know the plants would rather have that rinse water.

Also if you can take the time to soak clothes even for 30 min before washing, the soap will loosen the soil and scent and you won't need as much agitation time-clothes last longer and look better. Some probably don't need much agitation at all, just a few squeezes in the suds every now and then. Rinsing a few times is really the best for the clothes. Getting all the soap out makes a big difference. I rinse in one bucket and then squeeze it out and rinse again in fresh water. All that goes on the plants.

Thank you for more good ideas and kudos to those of you who have changed your habits in ways that help conserve natural resources.

maybe six of one/half dozen of the other here. I think everyone should do just a little -- if EVERYONE did "just a little" that would amount to a lot!

I want to mention there's a road too far here, in my opinion, . . . my DD#2 in Oregon doesn't use toilet paper. Oh, no -- her family uses toilet cloths, (handmade by DD, like washcloths) which are then dumped, used, in an open basket next to the commode, to be washed later.

I bring my own toilet paper when I come to visit!

I do wish we didn't use potable water for flushing waste. I agree with Mr. Gates -- that's insane.

Wow, kitty, I cannot imagine doing that with my laundry! Of course, I run my sponges through the dishwasher which we run once a week, so I don't have dishcloths. My front loader uses about 9 gal. per load, so that is good. It also has a very high rpm spin speed, so the dryer doesn't have to run long if at all. I would love to have a clothesline like my mother did when I was young. We are not allowed to use grey water here, but I wish we were. The dehumidifier water does go out on the plants or into the birdbath.

Yikes, Violet, barring a return to the prehistoric era, I don't think I would go so far as to give up toilet tissue.

We also use landscaping to our advantage. Large deciduouus trees provide shade in summer and allow warming in winter and we have lots of glass on the east/southeast side which provides solar heat in the winter as well, but is well shaded this time of year. Unfortunately, many new neighbors are cutting down their huge trees.

I think a lot of our problems come from settling and developing areas that were never all that lush until rivers were diverted/dams built/irrigation pipes run to provide green to those moving into these areas. We are draining the large aquifers in the world and that is very serious.

How many people in Arizona now want lawns? Silly. Even here in the east, lawns waste way too much water and require incredible amounts of it along with chemicals to maintain that lovely green lawn that colonists wanted to recreate from their homes in wet England. Ours is green, but due to weeds and clover mostly. I am also planting more natives which survive our hot and dry summers better than other plants.

Unless we figure this out, there is little hope. The water on the planet is the same that has been here for millions of years. If we use up the aquifer water, there is no more. Too many people for the planet to sustain, I am afraid.

@violetwest - how does she control the odor from urine-soaked rags? I ask because one of the ways they tell you to conserve water is to delay flushing urine until the toilet has been used several times. I get that, but what to do with the toilet paper? If you leave several batches of used paper in the bowl, you'll have a clog in no time, but if you throw the paper away in a trash receptacle, it seems like it would be smelly.

I just spent two weeks with my son and his girlfriend. I really had to bite my tongue when she insisted on rinsing every dish until it was basically clean before putting it into the dishwasher. Modern dishwashers and detergent are designed to handle food residue on dishes. Rinsing them is a huge water waster. And the thing is that I know that both of them are very environmentally conscious.

she lives in a smelly house, I guess.

I rinse my dishes, too -- if I didn't they wouldn't get clean, and I use dishwasher detergent in my two year old dishwasher.

I agree terriks...our dw came with instructions specifically not to rinse as it has food sensors in the unit and if the dishes aren't dirty enough when they go in, it won't wash them long enough to get them really clean.

ah; well my dishwasher is cheapo to begin with, so no fancy sensors. I don't wash them -- but I do rinse them first. I don't think I'll ever be able to stop doing that. I also just can't not let the water run when I brush my teeth--bad, I know, but there's just something about it.

It's easy violet-just turn it off. The something about it is the cost of water and the growing water crisis. I promise you will get used to it. When I lived in PA, my German neighbor and mother of my son's best friend who is like a second son to me, was apoplectic after her children had guests who did not turn off the water when they brushed. I was so glad that I had taught DS to not let the water run while he brushed.

I suggest that those who prewash their dishes before putting the into the dishwasher try to just scrape off the large chunks of food and see what happens.

Hey, America: Stop Prewashing Your Dishes

Every Reason to Stop Pre-Rinsing Dishes Before They Go in the Dishwasher

Clean Your Plate: Energy-Saving Dishwashing Tips

terriks, we have done that, and they do not come clean. However, during the growing season, we keep a bowl in the sink to capture the rinse water which is later added to plants.

Fun2Bhere, for starters, whether or not you get a clog depends on the toilet paper. Some break down better than others, and it also depends on how much paper is used in each sitting. Because of the factors involved and the need for discretion in determining when it is the appropriate time to make sure it gets flushed, we do not have the kids do this. The potential for problems is too great, but it is easier to implement in the master bath where there are only adults and no guests who use it.

@tishtoshnm, we all have a personal line and mine is refusal to use toilet paper so thin that my finger punches through it. I don't use the ultra thick stuff, but I won't use that Scott "why bother" stuff either...lol.

@terriks, my 10-year-old Bosch is useless unless you completely rinse the food off. What I usually do is put 2 - 3 cups of water into a large bowl and rinse the dishes with that. The water then goes down the disposal with all of the food residue. Whenever the Bosch dies, I will replace it with the best food eating dishwasher I can afford.

@violet west, she really lives with the smell of urine? I thought maybe she had discovered a clever way to deal with that. I'm disappointed.

me too; probably a good thing I live 1600 miles away

As a former cloth diaper mom either you have a waterproof bag you can close if the smell is bad or the pail method has water in it which will keep the odor down.

It really depends on how long you let the soiled cloths sit there and how clean they really get when they are washed. There is definitely a right way and a wrong way in the laundering.

Fun2b, a compost pail with a charcoal filter could be a viable option.

All this is a little bewildering to me, an easterner with often way too much rain here. Doesn't seem fair!

I wash several loads everyday of my dad's laundry and if he wets the bed, often,( as he takes his clothes off sometimes, dementia) then if the dog has extra needs; and gets wet and muddy and jumps on everything, more, then my general gardening clothes, 5 loads in a day is average. Hot water and full tubs.

Showers and and I run the dishwasher a minimum of once a day, always full.

I could not get by on one or two loads of anything a week.

@violetwest, your reply about the distance made me grin.

@Iowacommute and @tishtoshnm, thanks for those ideas.

@Bumblebeez, I agree that it would be nice if there was a way to even out rainfall across the country.