Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Back in 2015, California's dry earth was crunching under a fourth year of drought. Then-Governor Jerry Brown ordered an unprecedented 25 per cent reduction in home water use. Farmers, who use the most water, volunteered too to avoid deeper, mandatory cuts. World News | Solar Panels on Water Canals Seem Like a No-brainer. So Why Aren't They Widespread?.