Brace yourselves, folks: the worst drought conditions in California history have become a reality inside San Francisco's myopic distortion zone. In an announcement today, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has asked local residents to cut back on their water usage by at least 10%. So go easy on the Calgon baths.

The conservation effort is voluntary, so the water police won't come knocking on your door if you do end up spending a few extra minutes in the shower mentally preparing yourself for another week of trudging to work in 60-degree February sunshine. Still, our scenic and delicious Hetch Hetchy water won't last forever, so it's best to skimp where we can.

"Over the past ten years we have strengthened our water system, upgraded critical facilities and diversified supplies in order to prepare for this very moment,” Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement. “Our users have been extremely prudent in their water use. Still, given the severity of the drought this year, we need every Hetch Hetchy customer to do a little more to conserve water.”

The good news is our planet-minded city has already cut back on overall water consumption by 22% since the last time California got really dry in 2007. According to the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, San Franciscans on average use a mere 49 gallons of water per day — one of the lowest in the state. That said, you should still turn off the faucet while you're brushing your teeth. (Did you know that wastes two gallons per minute? Two gallons! Per minute!) Or, as SFPUC General Manager Harlan Kelly, Jr. put it dramatically, "Every water drop saved today is truly a drop saved for the future. And there simply won’t be a future without water.”

If you're a worrier, you can keep up with how our water supply is doing with the PUC's Water Supply Update page.

Previously: Tips On How To Start Conserving Water During The Drought