How can I conserve water?
Some
people may think that with cooler and hopefully wetter weather on
the way, conserving water isn't as important as it was in sizzling
August or September. However, water conservation experts say it's
critical to cut back on water usage now to help keep needed water in
our reservoirs.
“It's the perfect unstorm,” says Teresa Penunuri, community
outreach manager for the San Diego County Water Authority. “We have
drought conditions, low water reservoirs and we're looking at water
supply cutbacks from Northern California.”
Water rates will increase next year. That's a given. And, unless
we get plenty of rain in the next few months and people start
actively conserving water, the possibility of mandatory water
restrictions for homeowners is becoming more likely.
“We need to change the way we think about water and be realistic.
San Diego is growing and California is growing, but our water supply
is not growing,” says Penunuri, noting that San Diego imports 95
percent of its water. “We need to think about the future and plan
for our children and grandchildren and make sure they have enough
water and an environment that's sustainable. Water is a very
precious resource.”
To help you save more than 100 gallons of water a week, water
conservation experts offer a smart water-usage tour of your home and
yard.
Water conservation resources
San Diego
County Water Authority, 20gallonchallenge.com
Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California and the family of Southern
California Water Agencies, bewaterwise.com
City of San
Diego Water Conservation Program, sandiego.gov/water/conservation
City of San
Diego landscape water calculator to help you determine the right
amount of water for your landscaping, apps.sandiego.gov/landcalc
American
Water Works Association's drip calculator for determining how much
water is wasted due to leaks,
awwa.org/advocacy/learn/conserve/dripcalc.cfm
Cuyamaca
College's water-conservation tips for landscaping, thegarden.org
Kitchen
Run the
dishwasher only when full.
Use the
appropriate setting for the most efficient run.
Don't
pre-rinse. Most newer dishwashers don't require it.
Soak dirty
pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them
clean.
If you have
to run the water to let it warm up or cool off, set a bucket in the
sink and collect the running water. Use that to water your plants.
Install an
aerator with flow restrictors on all faucets and showers.
Bathroom
Turn off the
water when brushing teeth or shaving.
Take shorter
showers. Every minute you shorten your shower saves about 2.5
gallons of water. Shave off two minutes from your morning shower and
in one month you've saved about 150 gallons of water. The Water
Authority recommends five-minute showers.
Replace your
old toilet with a new low-flow toilet. There are incentives and
rebates offered on the Web site 20gallonchallenge.com.
Fix leaky
toilets. To check for leaks, put food coloring in the tank. Color
will appear in the bowl in 30 seconds if there's a leak.
Fix leaky or
dripping faucets.
Laundry room
Replace
older, inefficient washing machines with newer water-saving models.
For information on rebates and vouchers, call (888) 376-3314 or go
to bewaterwise.com.
Wash only
full loads of laundry.
Use the
appropriate water-level settings for the most efficiency.
Yard and patio
Water
landscaping only before 6 a.m. and after 8 p.m. to reduce
evaporation and interference from wind. “If you can see the sun, you
shouldn't see the sprinkler going on,” Penunuri says.
Don't
overwater. Step on the grass. If it springs back when you lift your
foot, it doesn't need water. Reduce irrigation cycle by one to three
minutes, or eliminate one irrigation cycle per week.
Water only
after the top inch of soil is dry. “Put your finger in the dirt. If
you can get up to the first knuckle and there's moisture, you don't
need to water,” Penunuri says.
Repair leaks
and broken sprinkler heads.
Add 2 to 3
inches of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation.
Replace a
portion of the lawn with drought-tolerant California native plants.
Use a broom
instead of a hose to clean driveway and patios.
Instead of
washing your own car, take it to a professional carwash where the
water is recycled. If you must wash your car at home, don't leave
the hose running. Get a self-closing nozzle.
If you have a
swimming pool, you don't need to drain it every year. Draining it
every five to seven years is recommended by pool experts.
Install
covers on pools and spas to reduce evaporation.
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