Water Conservation Tips
Tips for Reducing Personal Use
California Drought
The drought in California has reached its third consecutive year, with no visible end in sight. The lack of annual precipitation and resulting snowpack combined with population growth, an aging water conveyance system, and issues in the Bay-Delta region have resulted in a reduction of available water statewide. This cutback in water supply has seriously impacted California's agriculture, its economy, and its natural habitats as well as the species dependent upon them for survival.
The statewide water crisis should demonstrate the need for water conservation to all California residents. In addition to reduction in use by municipalities, the people of California will also be required to reduce per-capita water use by 20%, by the year 2020. This can be done through modification of water-wasting activities such as leaving faucets running and excessive use of dishwashers and washing machines; however, the biggest potential impact to current levels of water usage is a cutback in outdoor irrigation. Outdoor watering represents nearly 70% of residential water usage, meaning that alteration to watering regimes outside of the home represents the biggest potential for personal water savings.
Luckily, there are a lot of actions both in and outside of residences that can result in fewer gallons used and lower water bills. The following tables highlight behavioral changes as well as potential in water savings, allowing each resident to track total gallons saved per day. Simple tips such as turning off the tap during teeth brushing are included, as well as outdoor guidelines such as placement of mulch around plant perimeters to reduce evaporation. Please remember that these are approximations, dependent on a variety of factors, and therefore will vary from household to household.
Indoor Tips to Reduce Water Usage
|
Action
|
Water Savings, in Gallons (g)**
|
|
Running dishwasher at full capacity only
|
2-4.5 g/load
|
|
Turning off tap when rinsing dishes
|
2.5 g/minute
|
|
Turning tap off when brushing teeth
|
2 g/minute
|
|
Shortening showers
|
2 - 5 g/minute
|
|
Washing only full loads of laundry
|
15 – 50 g/load
|
|
Fixing leaky toilets
|
30 – 50 g/day, per toilet
|
|
Fixing leaky faucets
|
15 – 20 g/day, per leak
|
**Source: www.20gallonchallenge.com
Outdoor Tips to Reduce Water Usage
|
Action |
Water Savings, in Gallons (g)** |
|
Water yard only before 8 AM or after 8 PM |
20 – 25 g/day |
|
Adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray |
15 – 25 g/day |
|
Install drip irrigation system |
20 – 25 g/day |
|
Remove portions of lawn/replace with drought-tolerant native plants |
30 – 60 g/day per 1,000 square ft |
|
Upgrade to smart irrigation controller |
40 g/day |
|
Add 2-3” mulch around trees, plants |
20 – 30 g/day, per 1,000 square ft |
**Source: www.20gallonchallenge.com
