Vast areas of the western United States are currently being affected by a megadrought, including states such as California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, Montana, and New Mexico.
The US government recently permitted seven western states to use water from the Colorado river following cutbacks.
But also cautioned them to conserve water to protect drying reservoirs, which is only getting worst through climate change.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation had recently given western states 60 days to either organise their own reductions or face mandatory cutbacks.
Authorities asked for a reduction of water usage by 2 million acre-feet a year. That accumulates to anywhere between 15% to 20%
Officials said they will be co-ordinating with the seven Colorado River states on reaching a deal, which are Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.
A new forecast indicated decreasing levels of the two largest reservoirs on the river, Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will have supplies lowered for two years in a row now: 21% for Arizona, 8% for Nevada and 7% for New Mexico.
Water has been called the elixir of life, and negotiating its use is a difficult task at times like this.
John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, says
“It is possible for us to make the larger necessary cuts, but I think it is going to take everyone at the table realizing that everyone needs to suffer a commensurate level of pain to get there”.
The 23-year megadrought has been recorded as the worst on record in at least 1,200 years.
And experts say at this point- there are two moves to make.
Swift action and water conservation.
