I have read a few articles over the past week or so that should should lift the spirits (a little bit, at least) for those of us who are concerned what this historic drought in California means for the future of our local communities. One good piece of news is that we are supposed to have a "signification rain event" in a few days as a couple of big storms head our way towards the middle of the week. Another is that President Obama recently announced aid would be send to help with the crisis after Governor Jerry Brown declared a "drought state of emergency" last month.
What I thought was most heartening, however, was that water agencies across the local region have already prepared for the worst by investing billions of dollars over the last 20 years in water storage, so we are not in dire conditions in our area (according to the LA Times). That said, it is still of utmost importance for all of us to consistently be aware of the need to conserve water and to help raise the awareness of this need in others. In that vein, here are a few simple and effective ways to cut down on water usage every day:
It’s also important to be efficient when doing things such as the laundry and the dishes:
Homeowners can also save water by cutting back on outdoor water usage. Using your sprinklers for 3 to 5 minutes less time could save between 2 and 5 gallons. Update to water-saving nozzles for when you must use an outdoor hose for rinsing or washing. And, of course, drought resistant plants offer a unique way to landscape while saving up to 90% of the water used for a grass turf yard. See one of my blogs about that here.
What I thought was most heartening, however, was that water agencies across the local region have already prepared for the worst by investing billions of dollars over the last 20 years in water storage, so we are not in dire conditions in our area (according to the LA Times). That said, it is still of utmost importance for all of us to consistently be aware of the need to conserve water and to help raise the awareness of this need in others. In that vein, here are a few simple and effective ways to cut down on water usage every day:
- Installing aerators on bathroom faucets can save 1.2 gallons of water a day, according to Save Our Water.
- You can save up to 10 gallons a day by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
- Reducing your shower time in from 10 minutes to 5 minutes can also save 12.5 gallons of water a day.
- Replacing your toilet and installing a high-efficiency toilet is a more permanent solution that can save 19 gallons of water a day.
It’s also important to be efficient when doing things such as the laundry and the dishes:
- Residents are encouraged to wait until the laundry load is full, to maximize the usage of water.
- Waiting until a dishwater load is full could save up to 15 gallons of water.
- Use the next smallest water level setting than what you think, most people don't need to have it on "extra-large" for a medium load.
Homeowners can also save water by cutting back on outdoor water usage. Using your sprinklers for 3 to 5 minutes less time could save between 2 and 5 gallons. Update to water-saving nozzles for when you must use an outdoor hose for rinsing or washing. And, of course, drought resistant plants offer a unique way to landscape while saving up to 90% of the water used for a grass turf yard. See one of my blogs about that here.
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