Water conservation has become a serious issue in California with below average rainfall this winter as it reaches its fourth year in a drought state.

Sacramento State and Sac State Sustainability have created solutions to help the campus conserve water during the drought. Fountains near Serna Plaza and the Library Quad on campus were turned off, and “Gold is the new Green” signs have lined campus lawns since last semester.

Kristina Cullen, a sustainability and operations analyst for Sac State Sustainability, provided information on the steps the university has taken to conserve water.

The campus has swapped traditional restroom plumbing fixtures with fixtures that use less water. The new toilets use roughly 1 1/5 gallons of water, compared to the older toilets that used 4-6 gallons of water per use.

Sprinklers on campus were replaced with low-gallon minute sprinkler heads, which decreased water output.

Water waste is water not being used efficiently; over-watering plants when it is warm outside or not finishing drinking water in a cup and pouring the water down the drain instead of conserving it for other uses.

For students who want to conserve water at home, Cullen has some tips.

“Limit your showers to just five minutes, reducing your shower time by just a few minutes can save up to 150 gallons per month,” said Cullen.

Cullen also encourages students to share with friends and family on social media pictures or posts showing how to save water.

“It can be enough encouragement and motivation for others to do it too,” said Cullen.

Psychology major, Oscar Rios has been conserving water, both at Sac State and at home.

“I carry a reusable water bottle and fill it up at school throughout the day,” said Rios. “I also try to take five minute showers.”

Rios has set a goal for himself to turn off the water when brushing his teeth.

Jeffory McDaniel, an environmental studies major and Sustainable Technology Outdoor Research Center intern, uses a 5 gallon bucket in the shower to collect the cold water when the shower is warming up, then uses the collected water to flush the toilet.

McDaniel hopes to one day be able to run the drain pipe from underneath his house, where the main water level is, out into his yard to water plants.

“A little goes a long way,” said McDaniel. “Little steps to save a little amount of water can inspire others.”