However, water shortages have occurred in some coastal cities and counties due to excess consumption at a local level. These are major agricultural production areas, especially for winter vegetables. Water conservation will help us meet the needs for water now and in the future without having to invest in more expensive sources of a new supply. There are many water saving opportunities available to consumers, industry and governments. Generally, three groups of actions are important - physical measures, economic measures and social measures.
Physical measures refer to alterations that can be made to water using equipment or processes.
Industrial examples include the installation of water recycling equipment such as cooling towers, and process changes that lower water use. Economic measures refer to means of altering the ways in which users pay for the right to use water. Social measures refer to broad social policies and actions designed to lower water usage. Examples include revisions to plumbing codes, legal restrictions on water use during drought periods and campaigns to inform the public about the importance of water. For example, use of water saving shower heads can not only save the homeowner the cost of the water itself but also save in water heating costs.