The water history of the United States, specifically on the western areas, is one that is reaching further out to far-off sources as the population continues to grow and the local reserve starts to dwindle.

However, five cities in southern California, which are heavily relying on water which is transferred from hundreds of miles from the San Francisco Bay-Delta and Colorado River, are now reversing the practice. Their goal is to stop their dependence from the long distance water sources by encouraging water conservation, recycling water, and relying more on local water supplies.

Colorado River, Santa Monica, Camarillo, Los Angeles, and Long Beach, all together, plan to reduce their water imports by as much as 40 billion gallons every year, this is sufficient to meet the yearly household needs of 1.1 million residents, this is according to a recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Santa Monica has the most ambitious plans; the city is currently relying on imported water to supply as much as 84 percent of its needs, and plans to cut the dependence to zero percent by 2020. The local government is now looking into groundwater sources, which they project to use for 72 percent of their needs in the future, together with a little water recycling, harvesting rain water will add another 28 percent, and finally capturing storm water.

Camarillo plans to cut their dependence on water imports down to seven percent, mainly by tapping into local groundwater. The town is currently constructing a desalting plant to convert saline underground water to potable water.

Ventura Country is also tapping on to desalted groundwater for future needs as it plans to cut imports from 78 percent down to 20 percent.
Finally, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) plans to expand their water supply by investing on conservation, capturing storm water, recycling, and transferring water.