A report issued Monday by a fisheries conservation group says New York lags Northeastern states in protecting its water resources.

New York uses more water per household than any other state except California and Texas, according to "Tapped Out: New York's Water Woes," by Trout Unlimited. The report calls for New York to adopt water conservation laws, which could include new limits on residential water use, and higher prices for heavier users.

"The need to address [New York's water issues] is acute," Assemblyman Robert Sweeney of Long Island told the Times Union for its story on the new report. Sweeney is head of the Assembly's Environmental Conservation Committee

Water has become a topic of increased focus in New York. Recently, for example, the New York City Council has been inquiring into risks that new gas drilling could create for the city's water supply.