Though agriculture accounts for around 75 percent of California's total water usage in a given year, it is that state's cities and towns that will bear the brunt of the mandatory water restrictions announced by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Spurred by a fourth year of a serious drought and the smallest Sierra Nevada snowpack amount since 1950, California governor Jerry Brown issued an executive order calling for a mandatory 25 percent reduction in water use by all cities and towns.

As part of the restrictions, large landscaped areas such as cemeteries, campuses and golf courses must significantly cut back water use. New developments must install drip or microspray systems if they plan to irrigate with potable water. Consumers will face higher rates for high usage.

Local water agencies will be charged with enforcing the order as they can be fined as much as $10,000 a day by the state water board, which plans to release draft regulations in mid-April and approve them in May.