Water-thirsty lawns are quickly becoming a thing of the past in Long Beach. We are now seeing yards that provide outdoor rooms for entertainment or meandering walkways surrounded by beautiful plants. Why? Because of a unique and very sustainable program Long Beach has designed to save water, which is quickly becoming a very precious resource. Southern Californians have survived periodic water shortages in the past by temporarily reducing water usage during the drought seasons. Because of the permanent decrease in imported water, the Long Beach residents now have a more permanent solution, thanks to our own water department.