California fights drought by tracking 21m people's water use

California’s water agencies have partnered with a data infrastructure firm to provide a real-time overview of water usage across the state. This is facilitated by a bespoke platform displaying common metrics to measure water usage by demographics, forecast consumption levels and evaluate projects like a $500 million scheme encouraging people to plant a more water-efficient type of grass. The project has enhanced inter-agency collaboration and slashed the time required for data analysis, saving over $5m in capital costs. The initiative was launched in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s 2015 demand that the state deliver a 25% reduction in water usage due to the ongoing drought.