Many families in our area are already taking steps to use less water every day. Most can do more without spending a lot of money or making major lifestyle changes. Become water-wise in daily habits and tackle the big water wasters like inefficient irrigation and leaks. Your savings will quickly add up. Here are five effective ways to conserve at home. Pick out the things you can do to and get started today! Fix Leaks | Change Habits | Upgrade Appliances and Fixtures | Improve Irrigation | Plant Wisely | More Tips 1. FIX LEAKS A study showed that leaks waste 27 gallons of water a day in the average household. Most leaks take just a few minutes and a few dollars to fix. Do this... and save... Fix a dripping faucet. 15-20 gallons per day per leak Fix a toilet that runs constantly. 30-50 gallons per day per toilet for a slow leak; if the flapper is stuck open, you’re wasting 1000 gallons daily. Fix broken sprinkler heads and leaky valves and hose bibs. 15-20 gallons per day per leak Fix leaks in pool and spa equipment. 20 gallons per day per leak 2. CHANGE HABITS top Every member of the family can save 20 gallons a day with these water-wise habits. Do this... and save... Turn off the water while you brush your teeth, or wash hands. 2.5 gallons per minute Take shorter showers. 2-6 gallons per minute Wash only full loads of laundry. 10-40 gallons per load Don’t leave water running when you rinse dishes. Or scrape, don’t rinse. 2.5 gallons per minute Run the dishwasher only when full. 4-6 gallons per load Never use the toilet as a trash can. 1.6 gallons per flush Sweep with a broom, not a hose. 8-18 gallons per minute 3. UPGRADE APPLIANCES AND FIXTURES top Toilets, faucets, showers, and clothes washers are the big indoor water users. Upgrading to water-efficient models saves water and money for years to come. Plus, many agencies offer rebates on water-efficient appliances and free water-saving devices. Do this... and save... Replace a guzzling showerhead with an efficient model. 4 gallons per minute Get a rebate for installing a new high-efficiency clothes washer. 20-30 gallons per load Get a rebate for replacing an old toilet with a high-efficiency model. 2.2-3.8 gallons per flush Use a displacement bag in the tank of an old, conventional toilet. 0.3 gallons per flush Install aerators on indoor faucets. 1-2 gallons per minute per faucet Install a pool cover to reduce evaporation. 30 gallons per day 4. IMPROVE IRRIGATION top Most people overwater without knowing it. Group plants in hydrozones according to their need for water and use a separate irrigation circuit for each zone. Reset your irrigation controller with every change of season and replace batteries in the fall. Do this... and save... Reduce each irrigation cycle by 1-3 minutes or eliminate one cycle per week. Use our Irrigation Setup Guide to optimize your system. 15-25 gallons per minute; up to 250 gallons per cycle Upgrade to a smart irrigation controller. It automatically adjusts watering times according to local weather and shuts off when it rains. 40 gallons per day Minimize overspray. Check and adjust sprinklers frequently to make sure you’re watering your plants, not the sidewalk. 15-25 gallons per day Use drip irrigation. Ask your nursery which flowers, shrubs, and trees do best on a drip system. 20-25 gallons per day Run sprinklers before 8 am to minimize evaporation from sun and wind. 20-25 gallons per day Avoid runoff on slopes. Break up total watering time into shorter applications on the same day. 15-25 gallons per day 5. PLANT WISELY top Choose plants that thrive on less water. Look for plants adapted to a Mediterranean climate, especially California native species. For ideas, see Water-wise gardening in the Tri-Valley and More Conservation Resources. Do this... and save... Replace or downsize thirsty lawns. Turf needs more water than anything else in the garden. Plant drought-tolerant ground cover or shrubs instead of lawn. 33-60 gallons per day per 1,000 sq. ft. Mulch your plants. Apply at least three inches of organic mulch around plants to retain soil moisture. 20-30 gallons per day per 1,000 sq. ft. MORE TIPS top Inside the Home | Outside the Home Inside the Home In the Kitchen Dont use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety. Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and save gallons every time. Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you dont have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs. In the Bathroom Reuse your towels for several days, at home and in hotels. Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants. When running a bath, plug the tub before turning on the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills. If you want a long soak, take a bath; it uses less water than a 10-minute shower. Outside the Home Outdoors Plant in the fall when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful. Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips. If water runs off your lawn easily, split the watering time into short periods to allow for better absorption. Aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface. Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller water drops and mist often evaporate before they reach the soil. Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden to remind you when to stop. A running hose discharges up to 10 gallons a minute. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture. Check the root zone of your lawn or garden for moisture. If the soil is moist two inches under the surface, you can wait to water. For hanging baskets, place ice cubes under the moss or dirt to give your plants a cool drink and eliminate water overflow. When backwashing your pool, consider using the water on your landscaping. After cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants. Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those that spray water into the air. Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car and you’ll save up to 100 gallons every time. Better yet, go to a commercial car wash where they recycle the water. This also keeps chemicals and detergents from ending up in the water ways.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 19:48:06 +0000
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