In the midst of a statewide drought that has contributed to more than three years of dry farmland in central California, Governor Schwarzenegger and state legislators search for middle ground on drastically-needed water reform as the Water Department today echoed Mayor Foster’s statement from last week that conservation is the most efficient and cost-effective method for change.

Foster indicated in that statement that a 20% reduction in water use should be mandatory for all California cities.  Long Beach Water Department General Manager Kevin Wattier today agreed, and said that any agreement without that stipulation becomes significantly less effective.

Schwarzenegger originally threatened to veto all 700+ bills on his desk if a resolution was not reached by Sunday evening.  He then backed off that statement and praised the progress made by legislators.  Study sessions on the issue have been scheduled during this week.

The Water Department today also issued a statement urging residents to turn off their sprinklers as rainstorms are approaching. Several inches of rain are expected, and all outdoor sprinkler systems should be turned off for the rest of the week according to the LBWD.

Disclosure: The Long Beach Water Department is an advertiser of the staging-live.lbpost.com