"Drought" sounds so temporary, but there's nothing temporary about the decreasing availability of water in Southern California.

As such, we need a new word - and a new attitude - to deal with the region's new reality: Water shortage is the new normal, and it's time to adjust accordingly.

Last week, state leaders began hearings on legislation to resolve California's water crisis. Solutions could include building a canal to carry water around the ecologically fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and mandates that Californians reduce water consumption.

Balancing the water claims of farmers, fishermen, environmentalists, households and industrial users is about as easy as negotiating a Middle East peace agreement. Yet, the status quo is unacceptable.

The situation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has only worsened in the last few year. After a judge halted much of the water pumping from the delta to protect the tiny Delta smelt, some farmers in the San Joaquin Valley had to fallow fields for lack of water. Communities all over Southern California have imposed water-use restrictions. Meanwhile, the environmental damage to the delta is also blamed for shutting down commercial salmon fishing.

Meteorologists are expecting a dry year ahead - the fifth in a row. some long-range forecasters suggest global warming will reduce the Sierra snowpack that provides much of Southern California's water supply.

While Sacramento attempts to reach a statewide resolution to the water shortage, it's time to focus on permanent solutions. Leaders should move beyond temporary measures - such as prohibitions on lawn watering - and enact regulations and price signals that make water conservation a way of life in California.

There are new technologies to help - recycling, capturing storm water for reuse and gray water systems can help maximize every drop of water.

Los Angeles is investigating reviving the controversial program to mix recycled water with the groundwater that eventually comes out of household taps. While that plan sounded radical 10 years ago, Orange County residents have since begun drinking recycled water, and other regions are betting the technology will provide their own secure water supply. Last April, Long Beach's street cleaners began using reclaimed water.

Southern Californians have shown a great willingness to make temporary adjustments to get through the current drought, and cities have reported a 10 percent drop in water use. In Long Beach, water use is down 16.5 percent.

But adapting to a dehydrated future will require more substantial lifestyle changes and investments - in landscaping, home appliances, community design and water-saving technology. And cities and states need to move quicker on adopting and encouraging creative water usage - and reusage.

The first step is to retire the word "drought." The sooner California stops treating the water shortage as a temporary situation, the sooner California will be come up with the solutions needed to keep hydrated.