Despite California Drought, Fountains Still Flowing in Palm Springs

There was a sign in front of the "Rainmaker" fountain in this resort town on Monday afternoon: "This Fountain is Dry for the Drought. Saving Water is Mandatory." By the time you read this, that statement might not be true.

The Palm Springs City Council voted unanimously last week to turn the city's fountains back on, following the local water agency's reversal of its strict no-fountains rule.

The city of nearly 50,000 people sits in the heart of the California desert, where rain is scarce and temperatures regular top 110 degrees Fahrenheit over the summer. Yet even amid California's epic drought, the Palm Springs area has had some of the highest water use in the state, reflecting its lush, oasis-in-the-desert image.