Water restrictions to go into effect for California

LAFAYETTE, Calif. (KGO) -- People in the Bay Area preparing as mandatory water-use restrictions across California go into effect Monday.

Some of the Bay Area cities facing the highest-use reductions include Brentwood, Hillsborough and Morgan Hill to name a few.

Water restrictions will vary across the Bay Area.

Governor Jerry Brown has ordered the state cut its use by 25 percent.

That means people in all communities are forced to make changes to their everyday lives.

Isabela Adolphson's family is saying farewell to their front lawn and hello to mulch. Pavers will soon replace the grass in their backyard. "It's not going to look as pretty, but we have to do our part, right," she said.

At least 1.3 million East Bay Municipal Utility District customers will face a 20 percent mandatory water reduction starting June 1.

They're required to limit yard watering to twice a week and will not be allowed to water between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Those who don't comply could face a fine. "It's a $48 penalty on the billing cycle for customers who are using four times the amount of water than the average customer," EBMUD spokesperson Nelsy Rodriguez said.

The average customer uses about 75 gallons per day.

Having a brown lawn is now a badge of honor during the drought. There are plenty of them in some Oakland neighborhoods. In fact, EBMUD is offering lawn signs that read: "Golden state, golden lawn" to show neighbors they're conserving.

An Orchard nursery employee in Lafayete named Geoff Olmstead said succulent plant sales have skyrocketed. "A lot of people asking about drought plants, so what will survive with low water," he said.

The checkout lines were long at Orchard with people changing their gardens and their mindset. "A good portion of our yard is dirt. So, manicured dirt and so there's not a lot. Some flowers we didn't replant because it would take more water," Karen Haus said.

To learn how much your city is required to cut back, click here. For water rebate information from Bay Area water suppliers, click here. And click here for tips on how to conserve water. To learn more about how to report water wasters #WhereYouLive, click here.

For full coverage on the drought, click here.