Water wars are so much a part of California history, it's no surprise to hear that we're once again in a bona fide drought -- as declared by Governor Schwarzenegger today.

Chinatown was a dramatically beautiful illustration of the dirty politicking behind this precious resource in California -- in that case, the Owens Valley water.

In 2005, the San Francisco Chronicle ran a piece on the water conflicts between agricultural interests and environmental concerns -- and the disproportionate amount allocated (and low costs given) to business enterprises. You can read that article here.

Now, as we're urged to cut back again on showers and flushes (or, in the East Bay, mandated to cut back) -- it's not without some frustration over how inefficiently those resources are often managed on a a vast, industrial scale.

California Drought - Water Conservation Tips

That's not to say we don't all share a part of the problem and solution -- even minutely. So, keeping in mind the fraction for which we're personally responsible -- if you're not already watching your water usage, see these Water Conservation Tips for ways to cut back a gallon (or a cup) at a time. If you have other great tips to add to this list, send them in and I'll add all helpful suggestions.

The World Health Organization claims that globally, "water scarcity already affects four out of every 10 people." And the situation isn't getting any better with our population growth, development and resulting water needs. When I was born, the world population was half of what it is today. With twice the number of people sharing the same number of resources, preserving our water supply and our naturally-flowing sources is obviously high on the to-do list.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}