Return to Water Management
Introduction
You’ve just read about the massive coordination and effort it takes to bring water from the mountains, reservoirs and aquifers to treatment plants and finally, to the tap inside of your home. Hopefully you have gained an appreciation for all the work involved supplying Americans with clean, safe drinking water. A true triumph made better when you remember those living in America pay less than one penny per gallon for water delivered to homes.
American water use
The 2020 census indicates that there are 63 million families living in America. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American family uses approximately 300 gallons of water per day. The chart below illustrates how these gallons are distributed in the average California household.
Three hundred gallons per day may seem staggering. But, as the chart above indicates, it does not even contemplate the water used to grow the food we eat each day, the water used in manufacturing our clothing and the water used in making just about any product in our homes.
Water is essential to life and to how we live. The different water agencies managing the processes from start to finish make this all happen with little to no fanfare.
In this action, we’ll pick up on your water’s journey from the water agency’s distribution system into your home. You will do a series of checks on some of the main components of your home water and plumbing systems to check for leaks and shut off the water in case of emergency.
The 2020 census indicates that there are 63 million families living in America. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American family uses approximately 300 gallons of water per day. The chart below illustrates how these gallons are distributed in the average California household.
Three hundred gallons per day may seem staggering. But, as the chart above indicates, it does not even contemplate the water used to grow the food we eat each day, the water used in manufacturing our clothing and the water used in making just about any product in our homes.
Water is essential to life and to how we live. The different water agencies managing the processes from start to finish make this all happen with little to no fanfare.
In this action, we’ll pick up on your water’s journey from the water agency’s distribution system into your home. You will do a series of checks on some of the main components of your home water and plumbing systems to check for leaks and shut off the water in case of emergency.
Get to know your home water system
Most of us turn on the tap inside our homes and enjoy fresh, clean water on-demand. We may even take for granted the ease at which we do so, and maybe we’ve never even thought about how water gets into our home, and what to do if we ever need to shut it off.
Every home has a main water line that carries water from the underground distribution system to your home, and it’s usually located at the edge of your property line. Clean, or potable, water from your water agency supply is pumped through underground pipes with pressurized force to make it to your home.
Once the pressurized water enters your main water line, or pipe, it travels toward your home and can split into two lines if you have irrigation: outdoor and indoor water supply. Following the indoor supply, water is plumbed into the water heater to provide your home with hot water. Both cold and hot lines head to all sinks, tubs and appliances in your house that use water, enabling you to get a range of warm water at your faucets.
Most of us turn on the tap inside our homes and enjoy fresh, clean water on-demand. We may even take for granted the ease at which we do so, and maybe we’ve never even thought about how water gets into our home, and what to do if we ever need to shut it off.
Every home has a main water line that carries water from the underground distribution system to your home, and it’s usually located at the edge of your property line. Clean, or potable, water from your water agency supply is pumped through underground pipes with pressurized force to make it to your home.
Once the pressurized water enters your main water line, or pipe, it travels toward your home and can split into two lines if you have irrigation: outdoor and indoor water supply. Following the indoor supply, water is plumbed into the water heater to provide your home with hot water. Both cold and hot lines head to all sinks, tubs and appliances in your house that use water, enabling you to get a range of warm water at your faucets.
Stop the flow
As great as it is to have unfettered access to such a valuable resource, you may need to stop the water coming into your home. Emergencies happen. In fact, water damage from a ruptured water line is among one of the most expensive household repairs to make. Being able to turn off the main water supply to your home could help you save thousands of dollars.
For example, you may go on vacation for an extended period of time and you certainly don’t want to come back from a relaxing trip to a house full of water damage or the mold that might set in from moisture due to a leak. It’s a good idea to turn the water to your house off before taking a long trip.
You can find a shut off valve on the pipe that brings the water directly into your house. It is often found on an outside wall or in the garage.
As great as it is to have unfettered access to such a valuable resource, you may need to stop the water coming into your home. Emergencies happen. In fact, water damage from a ruptured water line is among one of the most expensive household repairs to make. Being able to turn off the main water supply to your home could help you save thousands of dollars.
For example, you may go on vacation for an extended period of time and you certainly don’t want to come back from a relaxing trip to a house full of water damage or the mold that might set in from moisture due to a leak. It’s a good idea to turn the water to your house off before taking a long trip.
You can find a shut off valve on the pipe that brings the water directly into your house. It is often found on an outside wall or in the garage.
Meet your water meter
Just like your car odometer keeps track of every mile you drive, your water meter keeps track of every drop of water you and your family use. Your water meter is attached to the main pipe bringing water to your property and spins forward (or advances if the meter is digital) as you use water.
For homes without basements, the water meter is usually in a box underground right near your property line, often near the front curb. The water meter is also connected to a shutoff valve that controls the flow of water to both your indoor and outdoor supply lines, helpful if you need to shut off the water to your irrigation system.
Your water agency uses the water meter to determine water use that you pay for on your monthly bill, but it also has a valuable use to identify leaks. By doing a simple inspection, you can check to see if your water meter is running, even when you have all of your faucets and appliances off, which indicates a leak.
Just like your car odometer keeps track of every mile you drive, your water meter keeps track of every drop of water you and your family use. Your water meter is attached to the main pipe bringing water to your property and spins forward (or advances if the meter is digital) as you use water.
For homes without basements, the water meter is usually in a box underground right near your property line, often near the front curb. The water meter is also connected to a shutoff valve that controls the flow of water to both your indoor and outdoor supply lines, helpful if you need to shut off the water to your irrigation system.
Your water agency uses the water meter to determine water use that you pay for on your monthly bill, but it also has a valuable use to identify leaks. By doing a simple inspection, you can check to see if your water meter is running, even when you have all of your faucets and appliances off, which indicates a leak.
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Your irrigation system
Half of all residential water use is for outdoor irrigation, which is why it is important to operate at maximum efficiency. Sprinkler systems should be checked periodically for leaks, and to make sure they’re delivering the appropriate amount of water to the right locations. Oftentimes sprinklers are programmed to run when you are not awake to notice, making it unlikely that leaks will be detected. Leaky sprinklers not only waste water, but all of the excess runoff flows into the street (where it can pick up pollutants) and into the storm drain system which then carries it untreated to our local waterways. |
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Your water agency
In this action, you’ll be doing some simple inspections to check for leaks and to locate your shut-off valve, but most water agencies also provide this service free of charge. Visit the website of your local water provider for more information.
OMWD may be able to help with images.
In this action, you’ll be doing some simple inspections to check for leaks and to locate your shut-off valve, but most water agencies also provide this service free of charge. Visit the website of your local water provider for more information.
OMWD may be able to help with images.
Instructions
- Print this Data Collection Sheet, and grab a pencil.
- Follow the instructions on the data sheet to locate your shut-off valve, inspect your water meter, and run your irrigation system.
- Report back to the city by clicking on the SUBMIT FINDINGS link below.
Evaluate and Report
Please submit your results to help your community plan for the future.
