Some of the water features at the Getty Center in Los Angeles have been intentionally dried up as part of an attempt to conserve water amid one of the worst droughts in state history.
In April, Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order urging citizens and businesses to manage their water use and expediting voluntary water transfers to farmers across the state.
Ron Hartwig, a spokesman with the J. Paul Getty Trust, said draining the fountains at the center are a move to comply with the governor’s request.
"We’re actually saving 2,500 gallons of water a day through reduced evaporation," Hartwig said.
He added that the savings come on top of a 55 percent reduction in water usage due to more efficient water practices since the Getty Center opened in 1997.
Most of the fountains at the Getty run on recycled or recirculated water and are regulated by smart meters or timers.
This is the first time the Getty Museum has shut some its water features because of drought conditions. Some fountains at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades have also been deactivated to cut back on water use.
- Running Dry: Drought Updates, Gallery
For visitors to the Getty who may be disappointed, not all water features at the center will be drained.
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Fountains with animals or plant life remain on, including its iconic central garden, which has a stream of water snaking through a maze of greenery.
The Getty isn't the only Los Angeles group capping its water use.
Local governmental organizations, such as the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, have also shut down some water features.
