The month of August may have been a dry one, but most Californians have met the water conservation target for the third straight month.

Statewide, water use was down by 27 percent in August, exceeding the 25 percent conservation goal set by Gov. Jerry Brown earlier this year. The rate is slightly lower than the 31 percent savings in July, but experts say high temperatures most likely played a role.

More than 400 water suppliers reported water use rates for the month of August and of those, only six communities missed the mandated targets. Regulators say they may begin imposing fines on communities that consistently fail to meet goals.

Torrance Municipal Water was assigned a goal of 20 percent reduction in potable water use. Their conservation rate for the month of August was 19 percent, but preliminary numbers for the month of September show a 24.4 percent decrease in potable water use.

There has been a substantial decrease in residential water use, which stands at 82 gallons per capita per day. According to the State Water Resources Control Board, use below 100 gallons per capita per day is recognized as being water efficient.

You can save up to 840 gallons per week by watering your lawn just one to two days a week. Checking sprinkler systems for leaks and then fixing them can save up to 500 gallons per month and using a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks saves up to 150 gallons each time. You can also install a smart sprinkler controller that adjusts how much water is used depending on the weather, soil and plant type. That will help save up to 40 gallons per day. And watering plants in the early morning or in the evening reduces evaporation, saving up to 25 gallons each time.

These are all ways to help save water use outside your home, which accounts for up to 70 percent of a resident’s annual water use. Go to BeWaterWise.Com for more tips, as well as information about local water use restrictions.