Easy Tips For Conserving Water During California’s Extreme Drought
Embrace these simple habits at home to help California navigate the water crisis
By Marilyn Nelson on May 12, 2021
(Photo by Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Things are looking pretty bad for California’s water supply as a majority of the state deals with extreme drought conditions. Here are some simple tips we can all use to conserve water at home.
From the Save Our Water website:
- In the bathroom – When bathing, by only filling the tub 1/2 way you can save 12 gallons of water. Limiting showers to five minutes can save 12.5 gallons. Turning off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving saves 10 gallons per person per day. By installing high efficiency toilets you can save 19 gallons per person everyday.
- Appliances – Only wash full loads of clothes or dishes to save 15 to 45 gallons of water for a washer, and up to 15 gallons for a dishwasher. Installing aerators on your sink’s faucet saves 1.2 gallons of water a day per person.
- Around the house – Fixing leaks can save 110 gallons of water each month. The website also recommends recycling indoor water for outdoor gardens.
- Outside – Landscaping your yard with drought resistant plants and trees, using mulch around trees and shrubs and installing drip irrigation systems and a smart controller makes a huge difference in water conservation. Instead of hosing off the patio, use a broom to clean outside areas.
- Watering and mowing the lawn – Setting mower blades to three inches encourages grass to develop deeper roots. The longer blades will also shade the soil for better water retention. Adjust sprinkler heads and fix any leaks. Even a small leak the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month!
