July 8, 2021 3:10 a.m.

On Wednesday Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order directing state agencies to curtail nonessential water use, implement water conservation measures and encourage drought resiliency.

A release said the directive comes as a result of 19 Oregon counties already in declared drought emergencies, and the rest of Oregon facing threats of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Brown said, “Oregon has a strong history of managing and caring for water, but climate change and chronic drought require water conservation and a commitment to working together”. Brown said many state agencies already have taken steps to improve the sustainability of their operations, including actions to reduce water usage. Brown said through this executive order, state government can respond to this growing crisis, lead by example, and “…show Oregonians that drought is a serious issue – but one that can be managed if we all work together”.

Brown encouraged residents to be conscious of water usage and take steps to reduce water use whenever possible.

The executive order directs state agencies than own or manage land or facilities to:

*Implement actions that curtail or end the non-essential use of water for landscaping or other exterior features of buildings and grounds, including lawn watering, fountains that do not recirculate water, and window washing

*Institute a moratorium on the installation of new non-essential landscaping projects that require irrigation at state-owned buildings

*Develop and place signs and other messaging within state-owned buildings to encourage state employees to reduce their non-essential uses of water inside state-owned buildings

The full text of the executive order is linked: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HOcmRhq0D-PNCwtV4lNTt1EELOhJYv1m/view