Yesterday California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency in 41 counties, dramatically expanding the emergency he declared in Sonoma and Mendocino counties last month (as WaterISAC reported on in the April 27 Security & Resilience Update). Overall, the emergency now covers 30 percent of the state’s population. Under the proclamation, state officials will consider ways to conserve water, improve water quality, and move water to where it is needed most. “It’s time for Californians to pull together once again to save water,” said Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the state’s Natural Resources Agency. “All of us need to find every opportunity to save water where we can: limit outdoor watering, take shorter showers, turn off the water while brushing your teeth or washing dishes. Homeowners, municipalities, and water diverters can help by addressing leaks and other types of water loss, which can account for over 30 percent of water use in some areas.” The proclamation also eases regulations, such as on water quality and environmental standards that limit deliveries from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, California’s water hub. The declaration excludes almost all of Southern California, where the drought picture is much less dire. Read more at the Los Angeles Times.