San Diegans are likely already seeing advertisements at regional malls encouraging them to “Live WaterSmart,” which is the main message of an outreach campaign launched Tuesday by the San Diego County Water Authority.

Although state water-use reduction mandates were lifted in May, the Water Authority’s hope is that customers of its 24 member agencies will help maintain what’s already seen as a strong regional commitment to water-use efficiency. In June 2016 — the first month following the end of state water-use reduction mandates — water use was down 23 percent compared to June 2013.

As fire crews made progress controlling a deadly wildfire in Southern California on Wednesday, another blaze continued to rage along the state’s picturesque Central Coast, killing a heavy equipment operator and triggering numerous trail closures and hiker rescues in Los Padres National Forest.

The Sand and Soberanes fires, both of which erupted on Friday, tore through wildlands in Southern and Central California overnight with thousands of firefighters tackling unpredictable flames. Firefighters managed to gain 40% containment of the Sand fire, which has caused one death and destroyed 18 homes.

The San Diego County Water Authority is setting up shop in front of a Kensington house to launch it’s new water conservation program.

San Diego County has long faced drought conditions. But a new desalination plant has changed all that, allowing the area to get 50 million gallons of fresh drinking water everyday, or enough to serve 400,000 people and 10 percent of the area’s water supply.

California, of course, has suffered through what seems like an endless drought. The result has pitted interest groups against one another for access to available supplies. But the problem is particularly felt around the world, especially in the Middle East and Africa.