The California way of dealing with water shortages: (1) rationing supply to favored groups, rather than allowing markets to allocate it to those who can put the water to its most needed and productive uses; and (2) banning any supply side solutions, such as dams, reservoirs, and pipelines.
My brother lives in the Bay area. Small landscape irrigation turned of in the winter. He has bills some months of almost $500 for he and his wife — no kids. Beyond stupid.