Officials with the Getty Center and Getty Villa have decided to drain each museum’s fountains in efforts to conserve water during the drought.
Getty officials report that roughly 2,500 gallons of water are conserved every day the fountains are not in use.
Signs around the water features advise visitors about California’s drought and the steps the Getty has taken to help through not filling the water fountains.
Visitors have had mixed reactions about the removal of water from the features, but Getty spokesman Ron Hartwig told the LA Times, “the compliments outweigh the negative.”
The Getty Villa is located just south of Malibu in Pacific Palisades and the Getty Museum is in Los Angeles.
Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought state of emergency for California on January 17. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 33% of the state faces exceptional drought conditions, which has risen from 25% a week before. The State Water Resources Control Board reported water use in California was down 5% through May.