Water Conservation Tips
Water conservation efforts in Hillsborough have previously focused on indoor water use (water efficient toilets, shower heads, washing machines, etc). Outdoor water use, however, accounts for over two-thirds of total water use. Most of Hillsborough’s residents will find their best opportunity to conserve water will be associated with outdoor water use.
Outdoor Conservation Tips
- Talk to an irrigation specialist about installing “smart irrigation controllers”. Smart controllers tailor watering schedules and run times automatically to meet specific landscape needs. They are a proven technology to improve outdoor water efficiencies, with features such as: automated shutoff when raining and automatic watering adjustment based on different weather conditions and seasonal changes.
- Maintain your irrigation system. Do your sprinklers water your plants, or your sidewalks? Do the heads spray water or pool water because they leak? Poorly maintained and leaking irrigation systems waste vast amounts of water. An irrigation conservation professional can help you eliminate water waste and save money.
- Check for broken sprinkler heads and irrigation tubing. Broken sprinkler heads waste water and can potentially damage your landscape. Inspect these systems at least once a month.
- Don't water the pavement. Position sprinkler heads to water lawns and gardens, not the pavement surrounding your landscape.
- Water your lawn only when it needs it. Over-watering the lawn is a common wasteful practice. Step on your lawn. If the grass springs back up when you remove pressure, it doesn't need watering.
- Deep-soak your lawn. Remember to water long enough to deep-soak grass roots -- this will reduce the frequency of watering schedules. A light sprinkling will sit on the surface of the turf and easily evaporate.
- Water during the cool part of the day. Reduce evaporation by watering lawns and plants only at night or early morning before dawn.
- Reduce turf. Grass typically requires a lot of water. Replacing turf with no- or low-water using plants can significantly reduce your water bill.
- Replace high-water use plants with low-water use plants. Plants that are indigenous to Mediterranean climates are best suited for our region.
- Place mulch around trees and plants. A layer of mulch will slow the evaporation of moisture from your landscape and inhibit the growth of weeds.
- Install shut-off nozzles on all garden hoses. Make sure your garden hose has an automatic shut-off.
- Sweep sidewalks and driveways. Hosing down pavement around your home can waste hundreds of gallons of water. A broom is the proper tool to clean these areas.
- Purchase a pool cover. Pool covers prevent the evaporation of water during hot weather.
Additional Resources: Outdoor Water Conservation
Irrigation Conservation Specialists:
Irrigation Controller Information:
http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/docs/irrigation_controllers_0903.pdf
Bay Friendly Plants:
www.bayfriendlycoalition.org/publications.shtml
www.bawsca.watersavingplants.com
Bay Friendly Landscaping Guide:
http://www.stopwaste.org/docs/bay-friendly_landscape_guidelines_-_all_chapters.pdf
State of California Landscaping and Watering Guides:
www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/docs/wucols00.pdf
http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/docs/water_efficient_landscapes.pdf
Water Conservation Classes and Resources:
http://bawsca.org/water-conservation/conservation-links/
http://bawsca.org/water-conservation/residential-water-conservation-programs/
http://www.ebmud.com/resource-center/water-conservation-resources
Indoor Conservation Tips
Conservation Tips: In the Kitchen and Laundry Rooms...
- Don't leave the water running. Turn off the tap while washing dishes. Fill the sink or a pail to wash and rinse dishes.
- Run the dishwasher only when full.
- Install a water- and energy-efficient dishwasher. You can save 3 to 8 gallons a load this way.
- Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Even a small leak from worn washers can waste more than 50 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.
- Equip faucets with aerators. Installing aerators on kitchen and bathroom sinks can reduce indoor water use by about 4 percent.
- Upgrade to an efficient clothes washing machine. High-efficiency clothes washers can reduce water and energy use by 40 percent.
- Wash only full laundry loads. You don't need to do laundry every day. Wait until you have a full load of laundry to run the clothes washing machine and you'll save on water, wastewater and energy costs.
Conservation Tips: In the Bathroom...
- Check your toilet flapper. Over time, the flapper in your toilet tank becomes worn and does not work effectively to stop leaks into the toilet bowl. Flappers can be easily found at hardware stores and are simple to install.
- Install low-flow showerheads. Replace older showerheads with new efficient models that use 2.5 gallons per minute or less. Older models can flow up to 7 gallons per minute and can waste thousands of gallons per month. Today's efficient models still produce great water pressure.
- Take shorter showers. Limit showers to the time it takes to lather up, wash down and rinse. A running shower can waste up to 7 gallons per minute.
- Change everyday habits-- turn off the tap! Running the water while brushing teeth and shaving can waste hundreds of gallons every month.
- Replace your old toilet. Toilets are the largest water user in the home. New high-efficiency toilet models flush at 1.2 gallons or less as opposed to older models, which use up to 7 gallons per flush.
- Do not use your toilet as a wastebasket. Even material like dental floss and cotton balls aggregate into large balls in the sewer system, and can lead to clogged pipes and overflows. Dispose of your waste in the garbage, not the toilet.
- Turn water off when brushing teeth or shaving. You can save 10 gallons of water a day this way.
- When shopping for appliances, consider looking for Energy Star and other environmentally friendly brands.
Additional Resources: Indoor Water Conservation
http://bawsca.org/water-conservation/conservation-links/
http://bawsca.org/water-conservation/residential-water-conservation-programs/
http://www.ebmud.com/resource-center/water-conservation-resources