Last year Californians weathered the driest year on record and the drought conditions are continuing. Orange County has done an amazing job in the last decade at conserving our states water supply. Our population has continued to grow but our water consumption has not grown at an equal rate. This shows our determination for stewardship. Here are some helpful tips to keep up the good work.
- Install water conserving hardware i.e. aerators in your faucets, high-pressure showers and ultra low flush toilets. These improvements can save 70,000 gallons of water a year per household. This reflects a yearly savings on your water bill of around $200.
- Water your lawn early in the morning or late at night to avoid evaporation.
- Install drip irrigation for trees, shrubs and flower beds.
- Integrate native plants into your landscaping; many of them need less water.
- Reduce your shower time by 5 minutes & turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
- Only wash full loads of laundry and/or dishes
- Fill the sink to rinse dishes rather than running the water.
- Install an instant water heater on sinks and showers far from the main water heater. This keeps you from running the water while waiting for it to get hot.
- Wash your car with a bucket of water rather than leaving the hose running.
- Sweep your driveway with a broom rather than hosing it off.
For more tips on how to conserve water visit www.wateraware.org