Originally a Midwesterner, Jennifer Werkowski shares her perspective on a water issue where she currently lives — California.

“Moving from the Midwest to California was a real eye opener for how much we take water for granted. I am not used to having to buy water to drink for my home because the water taste like dirt.

“California has been suffering from a severe drought for a long time now, which has affected farmers and of course caused many fires throughout California this summer. I was surrounded by four fires happening at one time which makes for bad air quality.

“It’s still shocking and sad to see so much brown grass where a large mass of water used to be. People are encouraged everyday to reduce water by recycling water from the limited rain we get, planting certain types of water resistant plants and trees, adjust sprinklers, install drip irrigation and use mulch. Many are hopeful, with the grass finally turning green and lakes filling up from the long awaited rain, that the drought will soon be a thing of the past.”