Kitchen

• When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
• Run the dishwasher only when full.
• Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. Now, Energy Star dishwashers save even more water and energy – saves 3-8 gallons/load.
• Install aerators on the kitchen faucet to reduce flows to less than 1 gallon/minute.
• If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
• Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
• Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time.
• Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
• Don’t use running water to thaw food. For water efficiency and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator.
• Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
• Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup, it’s one more way to get eight glasses of water a day.
• Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
• Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.
• If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
• Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.

Bathroom

• If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a low-flow shower head – save up to 2.5 gallons/shower.
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
• Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
• Toilet leaks can be silent! Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least once a year.
• Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak. Fix it and start saving gallons.
• When running a bath, plug the bathtub before turning on the water. Adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
• Fill the bathtub halfway or less – save 12 gallons/bath.
• Install a high-efficiency toilet – Save 19 gallons/person/day.
• If your toilet flapper doesn’t close properly after flushing, replace it.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth or shave and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That’s up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
• Consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full-flush for solid waste.
• Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor and save up to 300 gallons a month.
• Turn off the water while washing your hair and save up to 150 gallons a month.
• When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
• Take 5-minute showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires up to 70 gallons of water.
• Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets – save 1.2 gallons/person/day.
• Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing them and save water every time. Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket.
• One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day! Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks.
• While you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants.

Laundry

• When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
• Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy, and helps your clothes retain their color.
• When shopping for a new washing machine, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some can save up to 20 gallons of water per load.

General

• Teach children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
• Use the Home Water Audit Calculator to see where you can save water.
• When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it most.
• Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.
• Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
• Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
• At home or while staying in a hotel, reuse your towels.

Landscaping

• Reduce outdoor irrigation to 2 days or less per week (on assigned days) for only 10 minutes per sprinkler station. Try to reduce each irrigation cycle by 1-3 minutes or eliminate one irrigation cycle per week.
• Use a trowel, shovel, or soil probe to examine soil moisture depth. If the top two to three inches of soil are dry, it’s time to water.
• Use a hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle to water landscaped areas not irrigated by a landscape irrigation system.
• Set a kitchen timer when using the hose as a reminder to turn it off. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons per minute.
• Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street – save 12-15 gallons/each time you water.
• Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning (before 10:00 am) or later evening hours (after 6:00 pm) when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter. This reduces evaporation and interface from wind- save 25 gallons/each time you water.
• Timing is everything when it comes to irrigation. Learn how to set your controller properly.
• Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case of malfunctions or rain.
• Remember not to water during or 48 hours following a measurable storm.
• If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.
• Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Signs of overwatering: Leaves turn lighter shades of green or yellow, young shoots wilt, and sometimes algae or fungi grow.
• Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won’t run when it’s raining.
• Water dry spot by hand instead of running the whole irrigation system longer.
• Don’t water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.
• Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the roots, where it’s needed – save 15 gallons/each time you water.
• Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
• Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops and mist often evaporate before hitting the ground.
• Use a rain barrel to harvest rainwater from gutters for watering gardens and landscapes.
• For hanging baskets, planters and pots, put ice cubes on top of the soil to give your plants a cool drink of water without overflow.
• Remember to periodically check your sprinkler system valves for leaks, and to keep sprinkler heads in good shape.
• Remember to reset irrigation controllers and replace batteries in the spring and fall.
• Pruning properly can help your plants use water more efficiently.

Lawn Care

• Hire a qualified pro to install your irrigation system and keep it working properly and efficiently.
• Hire a professional landscaper who has received landscape training specific to California chaparral environments.
• Adjust your lawn mower to the height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Taller grass shades roots and holds soil moisture better than short grass.
• Leave lawn clippings on your grass, this cools the ground and holds in moisture.
• If installing a lawn, select a lawn mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
• Aerate your lawn periodically. Holes every six inches will allow water to reach the roots, rather than run off the surface.
• Let your lawn go dormant (brown) during the winter. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three to four weeks, less if it rains.
• Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass. Ryegrass needs water every few days, whereas Dormant Bermuda grass needs water monthly.
• Remember to weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light and water.
• While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
• Water your summer lawns once every three days and your winter lawn once every five days.
• Catch water in an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. 3/4 to 1 inch of water is enough to apply each time you irrigate.

California-Friendly Landscaping

• Use porous material for walkways and patios to prevent wasteful runoff and keep water in your yard.
• Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others.
• Choose the right California-friendly plants and watch them thrive in our chaparral environment – save 30-60 gallons/each time you water/1,000 sq. ft.
• Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region. (Rebates may be available.)
• Plant in the spring and fall, when the watering requirements are lower.
• Consider attending a California-Friendly landscape class hosted by a San Diego County Water Agency.
• Avoid planting grass in areas that are hard to water, such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and driveways.
• Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
• Start a compost pile. Using compost in your garden or flower beds adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
• Use a layer of organic mulch on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water, reduce evaporation, and keep soil cool – save 20-30 gallons/each time you water/1,000 sq. ft.
• Visit your local water efficient demonstration garden to view plants that thrive in our hot desert environment.
• Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low-water-use plant and save up to 550 gallons each year.
• Call your local conservation office for more information about landscaping with water-thrifty trees, plants, and ground covers.
• Collect water from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts. Direct the runoff to plants and trees.

Pools

• Use a pool cover to help keep your pool clean, reduce chemical use and prevent water loss through evaporation.
• Make sure your swimming pools and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
• If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks.
• When back-washing your pool, consider using the water on salt-tolerant plants in the landscape.
• Minimize or eliminate the use of waterfalls and sprays in your pool. Aeration increases evaporation.
• Don’t overfill the pool. Lower water levels will reduce water loss due to splashing.
• Instead of building a private pool, join a community pool.
• Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those that spray water into the air.
• Use a grease pencil to conduct a bucket test to check for pool leaks. An unnatural water level drop may indicate a leak.

General Outdoor

• For more immediate hot water and energy savings, insulate hot water pipes.
• Use recirculating water when operating an ornamental fountains or decorative water features.
• Use a commercial car wash that recycles or recirculates water. Or, wash your car on the lawn, and you’ll water your grass at the same time.
• Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You’ll save up to 100 gallons every time.
• Wash your pets outdoors, in an area of your lawn that needs water.
• When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.
• When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways, and save water every time.
• Evaporative coolers require a seasonal maintenance check. For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler annually.
• If you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to plants in your landscape.
• Set water softeners for a minimum number of refills to save both water and chemicals, plus energy, too.
• If you have an evaporative cooler, install a recirculating pump to keep water from bleeding off with one pass.
• Report broken pipes, leaky hydrants and errant sprinklers to property owners or your local water provider.
• Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. Were a pipe to burst, this could save gallons of water and prevent damage.
• Install a thermostat and timer on your evaporative cooler so it only operates when necessary.

• Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
• Upgrade older toilets, sink faucets, urinals, and showerheads with newer, water-efficient models.
• Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
• Some commercial refrigerators and ice-makers are cooled with water. Upgrade to air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.
• Post a hotline in bathrooms and kitchens to report leaks or water waste to facility managers or maintenance personnel.
• Create a suggestion and incentives system at your organization to recognize water-saving ideas.
• Include a water-saving tip in your employee newsletter.
• Implement a water management plan for your facility, then educate employees on good water habits through newsletters and posters.
• Publish your organization’s monthly water use to show progress toward water-saving goals.
• Invite your water utility conservation staff to your organization for Earth Day and other environmental events to help promote water savings.
• Water audit your facility to find out your recommended water use, then monitor your utility bills to gauge your monthly consumption.
• Have maintenance personnel regularly check your facilities for leaks, drips and other water waste.
• If you use processed water in your business or facility, look into water recycling.
• Contact your water utility to see if rebates are available for purchasing water-efficient fixtures, equipment or for facility audits.
• Consider and compare water use when purchasing ice makers, dishwashers, reverse osmosis units, coolers and cleaning equipment.
• As part of the Fix-A-Leak Week in March, plan an employee campaign to look for leaks.
• Determine how your on-site water is being used by installing sub-meters where feasible, then monitoring for savings.
• Conduct a facility water use inventory and identify water management goals.
• Don’t forget hidden water use costs, like energy for pumping, heating and cooling, chemical treatment, and damage and sewer expenses.
• Show your company’s dedication to water conservation through a policy statement. Commit management, staff and resources to the effort.
• Shut off water to unused areas of your facility to eliminate waste from leaks or unmonitored use.
• Saving water on your landscape adds up quickly. Send the person in charge of your landscape to an irrigation workshop.
• Marry the weather with your landscape water use. Water use should decrease during rainy periods and increase during hot, dry periods.
• Scrape dishes rather than rinsing them before washing.
• A recent study showed that 99% of business managers surveyed ranked water conservation as a “top five” priority over the next decade.
• If your facility relies on cooling towers, have maintenance maximize cycles of concentration by providing efficient water treatment.
• While cleaning sidewalks, a hose and nozzle use 8-12 gallons of water per minute. A broom uses 0 gallons.
• Limit turf areas at your facility. Instead, landscape using water efficient principles to cut water use in half.
• Use recirculated water when operating ornamental fountains or decorative water features.
• Wash company vehicles at commercial car washers that recycle water.
• Wash company vehicles as needed rather than on a schedule. Stretch out the time in between washes.
• Consider turning your high-maintenance water feature/fountain into a low-maintenance art feature or planter.
• Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.

For ordering information please contact waterefficiency@oceansideca.org or call (760) 435-5800.