Thousands of beachgoers will soon feel the drought's impact in the dry shower heads of dozens of state beaches.
State park officials ordered the outdoor showers at 38 state beaches, many of them in Southern California, shut off as of July 15 to conserve water during the drought.
The move is designed to save up to 18 million gallons annually. It will also remove an amenity central to one of summertime's pleasures — washing away the salt and sand under an outdoor shower, the Pacific Ocean just a few yards away.
Todd Lewis, acting superintendent for California State Parks' Orange Coast district, urged beachgoers to investigate what he described as "several very clever alternatives to our outdoor rinse stations.