这是个艰巨的任务，但号称黄金之州（Golden State）的加利福尼亚州各城镇努力应对了这一挑战。由于制定了节水措施，其中包括可能的处罚手段，加州的用水总量下降了27.3％，超出预定的节水目标。

农业调整适应

尽管城市的用水量在下降，但农民仍不得不寻找更多出路应付持续四年的旱情。水资源的短缺推动了他们采用新的更有效的技术和耕种方法。

有些农民正在投资不同类型的灌溉系统。例如，加州中部的农民与当地的水务机构合作，建立了污水处理厂，将废水循环处理用于灌溉农田。

在加州其他地方，农民们正在改种无需大量用水的农作物。圣迭戈县农业局（San Diego County Farm Bureau）的埃里克·拉森（Eric Larson）在接受全国公共广播电台（National Public Radio）的采访时指出，种植火龙果——它“仅需非常非常少的水”——就是取代耗水作物的产品之一。

高科技解决方案

如果今年后期仍然缺少降雨，加州的水资源问题可能会更趋严重。因此，农民、商界领袖和政府官员都在寻找富有创意的长期解决方案，从纳米技术到大数据及精耕法等等。今年一月，美国航空航天局（NASA）发射了一颗卫星，用于土壤湿度研究，以便帮助农民更好地管理农作物。

California drought inspires innovative approaches

Californians were in for a shock. In April, for the first time, they were ordered to reduce urban water use by 25 percent to help deal with the state’s ongoing drought. “It’s a different world,” Governor Jerry Brown said when announcing the restrictions. “We have to act differently.”

It was a tall order, but cities and towns across the Golden State stepped up to the challenge. Thanks to conservation measures, including possible penalties, they exceeded the mandate and cut their combined use by 27.3 percent.

Agriculture adapts

Still, despite a reduction in urban water consumption, farmers are having to dig deeper for water as the drought continues into its fourth year. The water shortage is driving them to adopt new, more efficient technologies and practices.

Some are investing in different kinds of irrigation systems. Farmers in central California, for example, joined with their local water agency to build a wastewater treatment plant that recycles wastewater and pumps it to farm fields.

Elsewhere in the state, farmers are switching to crops that require less water. In an interview with National Public Radio, Eric Larson of the San Diego County Farm Bureau pointed to dragonfruit — which “uses very, very little water” — as one alternative to water-thirsty crops.

High-tech solutions

California’s water problems could grow more severe if rain does not arrive later this year. That is why farmers, business leaders and officials are looking for innovative, long-term solutions, from nanotechnology to big data and precision farming. In January, NASA launched a satellite designed to study soil moisture and help farmers better manage crops.