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ByScottSmith TheAssociatedPress FRESNO For the second straight month, Califor- nians exceeded hefty wa- ter conservation man- dates during the relentless drought without the state imposing fines, officials said Thursday. Cities cut water use by a combined 31 percent in July, exceeding the gover- nor's statewide conserva- tion mandate of 25 percent, the State Water Resources Control Board reported. The figure surpassed the June figure of 27 percent savings despite hot sum- mer temperatures. The strong figures show California residents are be- ginning to understand the dire need to cut back in the fourth year of the drought, said Felicia Marcus, chair of the water board. "This isn't your moth- er's drought or your grand- mother's drought," she said. "This is the drought of the century." Gov. Jerry Brown has or- dered cities to use 25 per- cent less water, compared to the same period of 2013, the year before Brown de- clared a drought emer- gency. Officials said heavy rain in July in Southern Califor- nia played a role in the lat- est savings, causing peo- ple to leave their sprin- klers idle. Enforcement and strong messaging by water agencies were bigger fac- tors, Marcus said. "We have a movement in urban California," she said. The state water board also released water conser- vation figures for each com- munity. Some 290 water suppliers serving 29 million people met or exceeded their con- servation standard in July — an increase from 265 in June, officials reported. Regulators are turning their focus to the commu- nities failing to conserve and making personal visits with local officials in cities that haven't responded to the mandate by Brown. Four smaller communi- ties reported missing target conservation numbers by 15 percent or more. One was Livingston, but state regu- lators say the large Foster Farms chicken processing plant in the area counter- acted conservation by res- idents. Regulators say they are working with city officials and Foster Farms on a plan that doesn't force the plant to lay off employees and saves water where possible. The state's largest water agencies met targets set by the state. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power re- ported saving 21 percent in July — more than its man- dated 18 percent savings. San Diego used 29 per- cent less water. The San Jose Water Co. consumed 38 percent less, and Fresno reported conserving by 31 percent. Regulators called the Coachella Valley Water Dis- trict the comeback kid for saving about double in July over June, hitting 41 per- cent conservation. Officials have not yet is- sued fines to underperform- ing water agencies. EXCEEDED MANDATE California cut water use by 31 percent in July amid drought RICHPEDRONCELLI—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE A lawn is irrigated in Sacramento. Francisco Sanchez walks into court for his arraignment at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco. MICHAEL MACOR — SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE FILE By Paul Elias The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO The shot that killed a young San Francisco woman and touched off a heated im- migration debate rico- cheted off pavement be- fore striking her in the back, which defense attor- neys say shows the killing was an accident. But San Francisco po- lice inspector John Evans testified the bullet trav- eled in a straight line, suggesting Juan Fran- cisco Lopez-Sanchez was pointing the gun in the direction of Kate Steinle, 32. The competing versions of the same event emerged Wednesday during the sec- ond day of a preliminary hearing held to deter- mine if there's enough ev- idence for Lopez-Sanchez to stand trial on murder charges. More testimony is expected Thursday af- ternoon. A judge will rule later. Evans testified Wednes- day that investigators found a spot on Pier 14 where a bullet left a mark on July 1 before striking Steinle in the back as she walked with her father. San Francisco medical examiner Michael Hunter also testified Wednes- day that the bullet made a rectangular-shaped wound rather than a typi- cal oval-shaped wound, in- dicating too that the bul- let had ricocheted before striking Steinle. Nonetheless, prosecu- tors have charged Lopez- Sanchez with intentionally firing at Steinle. Sanchez told police he fired the fatal bullet, but called the incident an ac- cident, according to his lawyer Matt Gonzalez and court testimony. Lopez-Sanchez said he found the Sig Sauer .40-caliber pistol wrapped in a T-shirt under a bench on San Francisco's Pier 14. The gun belonged to a Bu- reau of Land Management ranger, who reported that his service weapon was stolen from his car in downtown San Francisco in June. Divers plucked the gun from San Francisco Bay next to the pier the day af- ter the shooting. San Francisco Police ballistics expert Andy Smith testified that the gun was in good, work- ing condition and that the weapon probably didn't malfunction. Gonzalez suggested that his client "mishandled" the gun, which needs about five pounds of pressure to pull the trigger and suc- cessfully fire. Fatal shot in SF pier sh oo ti ng c al le d ri co ch et COMPETING VERSIONS OF EVENT Over80click-throughs every month I'm really happy with my digital display ad on the Daily News' website. Folks from all over who are interested in Red Bluff, not just locals, visit the website. And I get over 80 people per month who want to know more about local Real Estate for sale and click from my online ad, right to MY business' website! 530-529-2700 314 Washington St., Red Bluff, CA 96080 www.TehamaCountyRealEstate.com Published by The Daily News with great appreciation for the support of local businesses! JoinOur"HydrateOurHeroes"WaterDrive Let'sgetlocalareafirefightersthewatertheyneedforwhentheybattletheblaze. FromnowuntiltheendofSeptember,BrookdaleRedBluffwillbecollectingcasesofbottledwater from local businesses, veterans groups, civic organizations and not-for-profits in effort to keep local firefighters hydrated as they keep us safe. Drop off your water at 705 Luther Road, or call us at (530) 529-2900 for a pick-up. All participating partners will be officially thanked in The Red Bluff Daily News. Our firemen are our heroes. Let's be theirs during this very special drive. Donate today. For more information, call (530) 529-2900. 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