| Water Conservation Suggestions |
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Learn First
Understand the importance of water to life! Learn about how ecosystems work and how wetlands, marshes, bays and estuaries function to provide the bases of our natural environment. Understand the concept of the watershed and where our drinking water comes from. Take a look at EPA's Water to explore these concepts with your student!
Conservation Second
Just by conserving and saving water that we don't actually need, we reduce the burden on our water supplies and make the entire water distribution system more reliable. As much as 85% of local water comes from 160 miles away and requires infrastructure, energy, services and support to reach us reliably. The less we use, the more costs, energy and environmental problems we save. Nothing is cheaper or better for the environment than when we actually reduce our consumption. This applies to our use of water as well as everything else. Don't let your water just run!
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Fix Water Leaks Promptly!
Huge amounts of water are wasted every day by drips and leaks. If you have a leaky toilet or faucet, don't just put it off. Get it fixed pronto to save water. It won't end up fixing itself anyway. |
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Adjust Your Landscape Irrigation System
Depending upon your garden size, your plants can use more water than your family does. Be sure to check your landscape irrigation system on a regular basis and fix misdirected and broken sprinklers and pipes quickly. Keep an eye on the weather and turn off your system (or make sure it is programmed to automatically turn off) when there is rain in the forecast. If your landscape system is older, you may benefit from reviewing how the system is working. Much water is wasted by watering more than what your plants actually need. Be aware, too, that there are varying ways to deliver just the right amount of water that each plant needs, without sprinklers that spray everywhere. Broad spraying can do more damage to your yard, as spraying the trunks of trees can injure them and subject them to disease. Don't plant within the footprint of oaks, cedars, maples and other sensitive trees, that don't want extra water. These extra watering required of flower beds can kill the trees they are near. Time your system to irrigate at night, when there is the least evaporation. See this advisory from the Town of Atherton on Efficient Lawn Watering. |
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Replace older toilets Water conservation is here to stay and toilets are one of the biggest users of water. Consider replacing your older (pre-1992) toilets with newer, water-efficient models. Also, consider implementing a "No Flush" policy at night, especially if you have children. |
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Replace older washing machines Energy Star-rated washers usually also have a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5, which means they can use 35-50% less water and as much as 50% less energy per load. Check lists of Energy Star products if you are considering the purchase of a new clothes washer to save both water and electricity, conserving both dollars and the environment! |
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New Water Capture/Retention Systems With depleted water supply rapidly becoming one of our largest social threats, many people are considering ways to capture rain water and to utilize run-off and "grey" water for their non-essential watering needs. Rain Harvest systems capture and store rain and rain run-off water on your property and allow you to use it for irrigation and other purposes. Greywater and Dual Plumbing Systems allow you to capture and divert your slightly dirty water outflows for appropriate landscape purposes, potentially saving 40-50,000 gallons per year. |
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Consider a Native-Plant Garden Are you relandscaping? Consider reducing your garden's dependency on the water supply with a native plant garden. There are more than 5,000 native plants that make up the floristic province of California! More than 1/3 of these occur naturally nowhere else on earth. These environmentally-friendly and lovely gardens are rapidly becoming popular among the conservation-minded residents. Don't know much about native plant garden but interested in learning more? Try this class on California Native Plants from Stanford's Continuing Education series. |
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Know the Issues Involved with Your Water Supply & Be Active to Protect It
Providing clean and safe public water is one of the biggest challenges faced by society and it will become an even bigger challenge under threat from climate change and rising ocean water levels. It is critical that citizens know the issues and be aware of the successes and/or failures of public officials to resolve and report on issues with public drinking water. Here are some sources that can give you a quick leg up in understanding the issues facing bay area water supply:
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| Click here to send additional water conservation ideas to the EPC! |
