Back in the spring of this year, only 5% of California was in an exceptional drought. As of July that percentage had exceeded 33%. As Californians, we are acutely aware that water is a precious resource and that we can all do our part to conserve it.
Over time, our conservation awareness and daily water saving actions can make a big impact on helping to save water. And it’s more important now than ever! The impact affects not only you and your family, but our local communities, our beautiful state of California, and ultimately the entire global community.
Here are some tips that hopefully you are already aware of and practicing daily. It’s always good to be reminded that they are easy to follow and should be considered your new normal!
Indoor Conservation Tips
- Fix leaks, including leaky toilets – save as much as 10,000 gallons per year
- Install high-efficiency toilets, aerators on bathroom faucets, and water-efficient shower heads
- Take shorter showers (5 minutes or less, or “Navy Showers”) – you can save up to 21 gallons per shower
- Skip baths – a full bathtub can require up to 70 gallons of water
- Recycle indoor water to use on plants – from the shower, cooled down water from cooking pasta and vegetables, when refreshing your pet’s water bowl, if you’re running the faucet to get hot water- it’s easy - collect the water in a gallon jug to reuse
- Track your water bill and meter to curtail water use - when educated, we make better choices
- Turn off water when brushing teeth or shaving – you could save up to 5,700 gallons per year
- Use washing machine with full loads only and use the cold setting – save 20 gallons per cycle
- Run dishwasher only when full – save nearly 320 gallons per year
- Serve meals straight from the pot, not from a dish - cut down on extra dishes that need washing
- Measure your water use with a “flowmeter” and receive rebates from EBMUD
Outdoor Conservation Tips
- Plant drought-tolerant/resistant plants and trees
- Recycle indoor water to use on plants – see recommendations above
- Replace your natural grass with water-wise plants, artificial grass or hardscape
- Use a broom to clean driveways, patios, and sidewalks instead of water from a hose
- Water your outdoor landscape earlier in the day when temperatures are cooler
Please do your part to conserve water every day. It’s not just a drop in the bucket!
Red Oak Realty is carbon neutral and green certified – if you need recommended resources to help with some of the items on the lists above – reach out to us. We’d be happy to share our resources with you!
