California Gov. Jerry Brown announced this month that he has cut back on drinking water and bathing. Brown’s personal efforts at water conversation have gotten a lot of attention in the media. But his campaign to implement a conservation-only policy is a distraction from California’s real problem: Its water system needs marked improvement.

After voluntary water reductions failed to improve California’s drought situation, Brown, in April, ordered the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to issue a 25 percent statewide mandatory water reduction for municipal users. But, as of April, the state had conserved only 13.5 percent compared to April 2013. While this is substantial — the SWRCB estimates this conserved 175.6 billion gallons, enough water to supply 6 percent of California’s population for a year — it showcases a hard truth about Sacramento’s anti-drought policy: Conservation alone isn’t enough.