'Water battle' kicks off at UC Merced

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Students at UC Merced kicked off a month-long competition, hoping to help ease our state's severe drought.

The month-long "water battle" began on Friday, challenging hundreds of dorm residents in the campus' 14 residence halls to conserve.

"Students reduced their water consumption by taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth, and flushing the toilet only when needed," said project manager Gabriel Morabe.

Last year, more than 600 students participated and saved more than 89,000 gallons of water in one month just by changing their habits.

They also use a real-time monitoring system that lets them keep a running total of their savings. And last year, the system also allowed them to detect 14 leaks around campus which were repaired, saving countless more gallons of water.