There are other solutions that cities can implement.
A company called Rain is working on autonomous, unmanned aircraft for dropping water on fires. In Japan, an autonomous system of water cannons protects a cultural heritage site with 200-year-old thatched roof houses.
Cost is the main reason these solutions haven't been implemented widely.
"There's always this delicate balance of being afraid to go to your customers and raise their rates, but if you don't raise their rates, you can't do these extra things," said Marcus, the former state water board chair. "It's the kind of thing that keeps you up at night when you manage one of these agencies."