Governor Jerry Brown has asked residents to reduce water consumption by 20 percent as the drought persists. The Department of Water and Power in Los Angeles has even started handing out fines through the newly implemented "water cops."
But as state and city officials impose restrictions, a new report from UCLA has recommendations for easing people off water while not harming the health of the community. Brian Cole, adjunct assistant professor of environmental sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, believes instituting a tiered pricing system could help ease the effects for low income residents.