Summer is officially here. As our state transitions from record breaking rain and snow to record breaking high temperatures, it is more important than ever to remember to conserve water. While the state is no longer in a critical drought, the summer months present a big opportunity to make a positive impact to help preserve our water supply.
You can follow these tips to help reduce water waste this summer:
- Be efficient. Avoid watering your yards and gardens during peak heat hours. Water in the morning or evening to allow water to soak into the soil and avoid losing any water to evaporation.
- Try waterless cleaning. Instead of using water to clean driveways and sidewalks, use a broom or leaf blower. Using a broom to clean outdoor areas can save 6 gallons per minute.
- Take a trip to the car wash. Stay cool in your car and opt for a car wash instead of washing your car in the driveway. Car washes that use recycled water save up to 65% of water each time.
- Reuse clean water. Water your indoor plants, gardens, lawns or landscapes with any clean water you collect around your home. This includes water you may have collected in a bucket while waiting for the shower to warm up, washing fruits and vegetables, and leftover drinking water. By doing so, you can cut water use by up to 30%.
- Take shorter showers. Half of all water use inside the home takes place in the bathroom! Taking shorter showers can help save several hundred gallons of water over time.
- Turn off the faucet. Turn running water off while washing your hands, shaving, brushing your teeth – or whenever you can! Each of these actions can save over 10 gallons of water.
- Run full loads. Running full loads of laundry and dishes can help save water and energy.
- Find water-efficient upgrades. There are small and big upgrades you can do that can significantly reduce water waste. Opt to switch to water-smart shower heads, upgrading to water-wise appliances or replacing some of your current yard landscaping with water-wise plants. Be sure to check-in with your local water agency to find out if they offer rebates to help pay for costs.
When we all come together to make small changes in our day-to day lives to reduce water waste we can make a big impact. Let’s make water conservation a way of life, learn more at www.SaveOurWater.com.
