Return to Water Management
Introduction
Along the course of these Earth Smart Actions, you’ve been on a deep dive into the inner workings of the water industry, and undoubtedly now know more about it than the typical Californian. With a new, or renewed, appreciation of how water gets from source to tap, and then from tap back into various uses (and more broadly back into the water cycle), hopefully you have a better understanding of why it’s so important that we all work to conserve this limited resource.
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California passed the Water Conservation Act of 2009 that called for a reduction in urban water use of 20% by 2020. In 2018, additional legislation took effect, creating a new long-term framework for water conservation. Many water agencies achieved the 20% reduction goal, and some conservation outreach efforts were so successful that the agencies didn’t sell enough water to cover their operating costs!
Conservation efforts are shouldered by the water agencies, but consumers play a critical role in their success. |
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Everyone can conserve water
There are lots of things we can all do to reduce our water use, ranging from simple to complex. After reading about how you can conserve water at home, you’ll go through a checklist to identify actions that you can reasonably take at home. Here’s a list of some of the actions commonly promoted by water agencies and cities across the state:
There are lots of things we can all do to reduce our water use, ranging from simple to complex. After reading about how you can conserve water at home, you’ll go through a checklist to identify actions that you can reasonably take at home. Here’s a list of some of the actions commonly promoted by water agencies and cities across the state:
Outdoors
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Waterwise landscaping: Removal of turf and other water-thirsty landscape is central to a homeowners water conservation program. Many water providers offer workshops and rebates directly to homeowners to help cover the cost.
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Rain harvesting: Collecting rainwater in rain barrels and using it to water your landscape means you don’t have to run your sprinklers as often. Many water providers offer workshops and rebates directly to homeowners to help cover the cost of purchasing barrels.
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Irrigation leak checks: Periodically checking your irrigation system for leaks, and making sure sprinklers are spraying the right direction, can save homeowners a lot of money, and a lot of wasted water. Water agencies will sometimes even come out to your home to check for leaks.
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Irrigation system modifications:
To go a step further, you can also evaluate your irrigation system and make some easy swaps to save water. Most sprinkler heads can easily be converted to drip irrigation or replaced with water efficient rotary nozzles. |
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Irrigation system timing: The purpose of landscape irrigation is to keep plants thriving in the absence of rain. You can save a lot of water by simply reducing your watering schedule during the rainy season. Even if it doesn’t rain frequently, the ground holds more water during the cooler months, so it’s still safe to reduce water use.
If you’re looking for a more automated approach, you can install a WaterSense irrigation controller that will automatically adjust the watering schedule based on the conditions at your site. |
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Mulch planter beds: Using mulch helps hold moisture in the soil and reduces the amount of water needed. Mulch products that contain compost also add vital nutrients to support soil and plant health.
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Sweep: Instead of hosing down the driveway, patio, or sidewalk, sweep these areas instead. You’ll not only save water, but you’ll also reduce dry weather runoff that carries pollutants into waterways.
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Greywater systems: Divert and capture wastewater from showers, sinks and laundry to use for landscape irrigation. Some cities even hold workshops and offer rebates to incentivise homeowners to install greywater systems, commonly known as “laundry to landscape” programs.
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Indoors
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Aerators: Install aerators on your faucets to restrict flow. These are specially designed to keep the feel of high-pressure flow while reducing the volume.
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WaterSense Fixtures: A wide variety of bathroom fixtures are on the market today, from sink faucets, to shower heads, to low-flow toilets, that save water compared to traditional fixtures. Make sure you look for the WaterSense logo.
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Water Efficient Appliances: Newer models of dishwashers and high efficiency washing machines are specifically designed to save water. To save even more, be sure to load them to full capacity before running.
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Fix leaks: Be sure to fix leaks as soon as they are detected. Keep in mind that some leaks are not so obvious - toilets are a common source of leaks - if you hear your toilet running frequently, it may be in need of repair.
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Reduce water use in the kitchen: If washing dishes by hand, plug up the drain and fill the sink with water, or fill a tub with soapy water, instead of letting the faucet run; if using the dishwasher make sure it’s full and don’t rinse dishes first. Many newer dishwashers work better on dirty dishes.
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Reduce water use in the bathroom: Take shorter showers (5 min.), fill the tub only halfway, turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth and shave.
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Instructions
- Print this Data Collection Sheet, and grab a pencil.
- Follow the instructions on the data sheet to evaluate which water saving practices you already do and are willing to try.
- 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.
