CA Gov. Gavin Newsom asks California residents to cut water use by 15% as drought ravages the state

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom asked residents of the Golden State Thursday to cut their water use by 15%.
• The move comes as drought conditions intensify across the western US.
• The state is encouraging locals to "do common sense things" like reducing the amount of time spent in the shower, Newsom said.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom asked residents of the Golden State Thursday to cut their water use by 15% as drought conditions intensify across the western US.

The Democratic governor signed an executive order to "encourage" voluntary water conservation efforts across the state.

"I want to underscore voluntary water conservation," Newsom said at a press briefing. "We are hopeful that people will take that mindset brought into the last drought and extend that forward with a 15% voluntary reduction not only on residents, but industrial, commercial operations and agricultural operations."

Newsom explained that the state is encouraging locals to "do common sense things" like reducing the amount of time spent in the shower and doing laundry and running a dishwasher only when there is a full load.

"I'm not here as a nanny-state. I'm not trying to be oppressive," he said. "These are voluntary standards."

Additionally, Newsom added nine counties to an emergency drought proclamation, which now includes 50 of the state's 58 counties.