Due to imminent water shortages the Long Beach Water Department activated its emergency water supply shortage plan on September 15th 2007. This proactive decision triggered mandatory restrictions on outdoor water use and aggressive communication with customers about the importance of conservation. These actions have lead to a dramatic change in behavior among customers who have conserved over 1.6 billion gallons of water in the last year. Water consumption in the City of Long Beach is down 10% below the 10 year average and 2008 will set a 10 year record for low water use. This dramatic water savings comes on top of the savings that the District achieves through rebates, education and strategic partnerships. Around 17% of the District's water demand is met through conservation and 10% through reclaimed water.