By Staff Reporter (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Apr 12, 2015 11:46 AM EDT

With the historic 2015 drought in California threatening to change the lifestyle of millions of local residents and affect businesses that may have a ripple effect all throughout the nation, all residents should take this issue at heart and take steps to protect this precious natural resource.

Latinos Post presents these 5 practical and creative steps you can take to help conserve water. If you implement these steps you can help save at least 25 to 50 gallons of water approximately per week. If multiplied by millions, we believe it'll tremendously help the current drought situations threatening the livelihood of millions of people.

Snowpack levels have fallen at alarming rates over the last four years - from 171 percent of normal in 2011, to 42 percent in 2013, to a record-low 25 percent this year.

Snowpacks account for about 30 percent of the state's water supply, and their runoff replenishes California reservoirs. The dearth of this spring means less water in reserve when summer arrives and temperatures rise.

California Gov. Jerry Brown conceded that previously placed water restrictions aimed at battling the state's catastrophic drought weren't working.

"This historic drought demands unprecedented actions," Brown said. "Therefore, I'm issuing an executive order mandating substantial water reductions across our state. As Californians, we must pull together and save water in every way possible." The executive order is a first in California history.

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