Even if we got twice as much rain and snow this year, cities would be going after gutter flooders.

"We are still under a state mandate for a 20% per-capita water reduction by the year 2020."

Jessica Hess is with the city of Sacramento's Department of Utilities. She says besides the state mandate requiring all urban users to use less, water conservation is fiscally prudent.

"It takes a lot of energy to treat our drinking water..."

...so the less water the city has to treat, Hess says the greater the energy savings...

"…and the more energy savings we have, the less it costs us to produce the water which means ultimately it costs our customers less." 

Sacramento's water conservation ordinance allows people to water their lawns or wash their cars every other day, depending on their address, and watering before 10 AM and after 7 PM.