2013 was a record low year for rain fall in California. The Governor has just declared a drought emergency, and is asking for voluntary reduction in water use by 20%. Besides California, there are 11 states in the south and southwest that are also having drought spell.
Water savings not only saves money, but also helps the environment. Less water going down the drain means more water available in the lakes, rivers and streams that we use for recreation and wildlife uses to survive. There are many ways to save our precious water and we really need to adopt them these days.
Kitchen
- Install a water and energy efficient dishwasher. It can save you 3 to 8 gallons per load.
- Dishwashers usually use less water than washing dishes by hand.
- Newer dishwasher models clean better than older ones. They do not require rinsing.
- When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
- Install an aerator in kitchen faucet to reduce flows to less than 1 gallon per minute.
- Avoid using the garbage disposal. Instead, compost vegetable food waste.
- Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of let the water running.
- Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator.
- Don’t let the water running from tap while waiting for cold water for drinking. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator.
- Collect the water with a pan while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water houseplants.
Bathroom
- Install low-flow shower heads with 2.5 or less gallons per minute.
- Take a short shower instead of a bath.
- Take five minute showers instead of 10 minute showers. It can saves you at least 12 gallons per shower.
- Install aerators on bathroom faucets.
- Turn water off when brushing teeth or shaving. It can save you about 10 gallons per day.
- Install a high-efficiency toilet. It can save 19 gallons per person per day. Read more about toilets.
- Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket.
- Fix toilet tank leaks. An easy way to detect leakage is to place food coloring in the toilet tank. There’s a leak if color seeps into the bowl.
- Consider buying a one-gallon per flush or dual-flush toilet.
- Turn the water off while applying shampoo to your hair and save up to 5 gallons each time.
- When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
Laundry Room
- Use the washing machine for full loads only to save water and energy.
- Install an Energystar and water-efficient clothes washer when time to replace.
Landscape
- Water early in the morning when the air is calm. Avoid watering in the evening when it tends to be windy.
- Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
- Install drip irrigation system to water trees and shrubs.
- For much more water saving, remove your lawn and replace with drought tolerant plants.
Here are some more tips: improving landscape water efficient, and saving water at home.
