Santa Rosa asks residents to cut water use by 20% Published Santa Rosa asks residents to cut water use by 20 percent Citing the worsening drought, Santa Rosa officials are asking residents to slash their water use by 20 percent. SANTA ROSA, Calif. - The Santa Rosa City Council decided Tuesday to ask residents to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 20 percent. The action asks residents to take such steps as finding and fixing leaks, reducing outdoor irrigation, converting to drought-tolerant landscaping, taking shorter showers and turning off the water while brushing teeth, the city said. The council vote follows a drought declaration by Gov. Gavin Newsom for the Russian River watershed and a request by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership for a 20-percent region-wide reduction.