Water Conservation
Save Water, Save $$$

Water Hero Program & Prizes for Kids!
Water Conservation Checklist – Irrigation
Water Conservation Checklist – Outdoor
Water Conservation Checklist – Indoor
Saving Water Makes Sense (& Cents)
Tips for Saving Water
Ways to Save the Most Water
Tips to Save Water in the Bathroom
Tips to Save Water in the Kitchen
Tips to Save on Outdoor Watering
Other Ways to Save Water Outdoors
Money-Saving Programs for Homeowners - Rebates & Free Programs
Money-Saving Programs for Business - Rebates & Free Programs
Links to Water Conservation Websites / Information

Saving Water Makes Sense (& Cents)

Water is a very precious resource.

Right now in our service area, 80% of our potable (drinkable) water is imported through hundreds of miles of pipelines from the Colorado River and Northern California.

Twenty percent of our water comes from local sources:

• Recycled water for irrigation produced at our local Advanced Wastewater Treatment facility (10%)
• Water pumped from the San Juan Basin and treated at our Groundwater Recovery Facility to yield potable water (10%). In two to three years, the District plans to add another well and increase potable water production to 20%.

In addition, by 2015, increased recycled water use and construction of a proposed ocean desalination facility serving south Orange County could increase the District’s local water sources to an estimated 65%.

Despite efforts to develop local sources of water, water conservation continues to be the fastest way to decrease dependence on imported water, reduce urban runoff, and save $$$ on your bills.

Please see the many tips that we have to help you conserve water, the array of water-saving, money-saving programs for residential and commercial customers and links to water conservation websites with even more information to offer.

Tips for Saving Water

Ways to Save the Most Water

• Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water. So, set your sprinklers for more days in between watering. You can save 750 to 1,500 gallons a month.
  
  
• Fix leaky faucets and plumbing. You can save 20 gallons a day for every leak stopped. Look at the table below to see how much water is wasted on leaks of various sizes.
  
  

• Don't run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. You can save 150 gallons each time. For a two-car family, that's up to 1,200 gallons a month. Better still, go to a car wash that recycles its water – which most do.
  
  
• Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. You can save 500 to 800 gallons a month.
  
  
• Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. You can save 300 to 800 gallons a month.
  
  
• Shorten your showers. Even a one or two minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons a month.
  
  
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. You can save 150 gallons or more each time. At once a week, that's more than 600 gallons a month.
  
  

• Don't use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. You can save 400 to 600 gallons a month.
  
  
• Don't water the sidewalks, driveway or gutter. Adjust your sprinklers so that water lands on your lawn or garden where it belongs -- and only there. You can save 500 gallons a month.
  
  
• Just say no – when you’re eating out. If you don't want water in a restaurant, turn the empty water glass upside down. Not only will you save the water you don't drink, you'll also save the water used to wash the glass. Collectively we can save millions of gallons a year.
  
  

Tips to Save Water in the Bathroom

• Replace your older 3.5 gallon per flush toilet, with an ultra-low-flush model that uses only 1.6 gallons per flush. Improved technology means that they work effectively. You can save 5 to 10 gallons a day. That's up to 300 gallons a month, even more for large families.
  
  
• Check toilet for leaks. Put dye tablets or food coloring into the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, there's a leak that should be repaired. You can save 400 gallons or more a month. On the average, we find that a constantly running toilet wastes over 17,800 gallons in over a two month period.
  
  

• Take baths instead of showers. A partially filled tub uses less water than all but the shortest showers. You can save 15 to 20 gallons each time.
  
  
• If you're taking a shower, don't waste cold water while waiting for hot water to reach the shower head. Catch that water in a container to use on your outside plants or to flush your toilet. You can save 200 to 300 gallons a month.
  
  
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. You can save 3 gallons each day.
  
  
• Turn off the water while shaving. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. You can save 3 gallons each day.
  
  

Tips to Save Water in the Kitchen

• If you wash dishes by hand don't leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you only have one sink, use a spray device or short blasts instead of letting the water run. You can save 200 to 500 gallons a month.
  
  
• When washing dishes by hand, use the least amount of detergent possible. This minimizes rinse water needed. You can save 50 to 150 gallons a month.
  
  
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats the wasteful habit of running tap water to cool it for drinking. You can save 200 to 300 gallons a month.
  
  
• Don't defrost frozen foods with running water. Either plan ahead by placing frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or defrost them in the microwave. You can save 50 to 150 gallons a month.
  
  
• Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Rinse them in a filled sink or pan. You can save 150 to 250 gallons a month.
  
  
• Use the garbage disposal less and the garbage can more. You can save 50 to 150 gallons a month.

Tips to Save on Outdoor Watering

• Adjust sprinkler heads so they do not spray onto paved areas, such as sidewalks, streets or driveways.
  
  
• Adjust or deactivate automatic sprinklers when it’s cool or overcast – or when it’s raining. This could save up to 300 gallons each time.
  
  
• Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning is better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. You can save 300 gallons a month.
  

• Don't water the lawn on windy days. There's too much evaporation. Watering in windy conditions can waste up to 300 gallons in one watering.
  
  
• Don’t overwater. Too much water can harm plants – as much if not more – than inadequate water.
  
  
• Consider installing or upgrading to weather-smart irrigation controllers for your sprinkler system. They adjust the amount and timing of watering depending on the weather – that’s why they are “smart” and save you time and money in the long run.
  
  
• “Go native” with California friendly and drought resistant plants. Replace high-water-using trees and plants with less thirsty ones that require about two-thirds less water to thrive than non-native plants. Make the transition to native plants in non-drought years. Even drought-resistant plantings take extra water to get them going. Long term this can save you 750 to 1,500 gallons a month.
  
  
• Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Chunks of bark, peat moss or gravel slows down evaporation. You can save 750 to 1,500 gallons a month.
  
  
• Set lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation. You can save 500 to 1,500 gallons each month.
  
  
• Have an evaporative air conditioner? Direct the water drain line to a flower bed, tree base or lawn.
  

Other Ways to Save Water Outdoors

• If you have a pool, use a pool cover to cut down on evaporation. It will also keep your pool cleaner and reduce the need to add chemicals. You can save 1,000 gallons a month.
  
  
• If municipal ordinances don't prohibit it, drive your car onto a lawn to wash it. Rinse water can help water the grass. Or better still, take it to a car wash that recycles water – most do.
  
  
• Remind your children not to play with the garden hose. You can save 10 gallons a minute.
  
  
• If you allow children to play in the sprinklers, make sure it's only when you're watering the yard -- if it's not too cool at that time of day.
  
  
  
  

Money-Saving Programs for Homeowners

Money-Saving Programs for Businesses

Links to Water Conservation Websites & Information

• American Water Works Association
  
  • Homepage
  • Only Tap Water Delivers Campaign
  • WaterWiser® - The Water Efficiency Clearing House
    
    
• Association of California Water Agencies
  
  • Homepage
  • Blueprint for California Water: No Time To Waste
  • California Drought
  • California’s Water: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore
  • California Water Awareness Campaign: Nice Save
  • California Water Awareness Campaign: Save Our Water
    
    
• California Department of Water Resources
  
  • Homepage
  • Delta Vision
  • Water Use Efficiency
    
    
• California Farm Water Coalition
  
  
• CalFed Bay-Delta Program
  
  
• California Landscape Contractors’ Association
  
  • Drought Recommendations
  • Reduce Your Use
  
  
• California Urban Water Conservation Council
  
  
• Coalition for a Sustainable Delta
  
  
• Earth 911
  
  
• Food & Water Watch: I ♥ Tap Water Videos
  
  
• Food & Water Watch – Take Back the Tap
  
  
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
  
  
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
  • Homepage
  • Be Water Wise
  • SoCal Water$mart Rebate Program for Single Family Residences
  • Save Water, Save A Buck Rebate Program for Commercial, HOA, Multi-Family
    
    
• Municipal Water District of Orange County
  • Homepage
  • OC Water Hero Program
  • Overview of Rebate Programs
    
    
• San Diego County Water Authority
  
  
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Water Sense
  
  
• Tri-City Water Savers - South Coast Water District and:
  • City of Dana Point – Water Conservation
  • City of San Clemente – Water Conservation
  • City of San Juan Capistrano – Water Conservation
    
    
• Neighboring Water Agencies
  • Laguna Beach County Water District
  • Moulton Niguel Water District
    
    
• Water Conservation Portal & Search Engine
  
  
• Water Education Foundation
  
  
• Water Education Foundation – Aquafornia Blog
  
  
• Water Saver Home – H2Ouse