Low Water Projections Still Expected for California Residents
This year is likely to be critically dry for California. Recent winter storms are not expected to be substantial enough to counterbalance dry conditions. The best way to avoid a potential drought and water restrictions is to conserve water. Here are three easy ways to reduce your water use:
Tip 1: Shorter Shower Times - A standard shower head uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute. That means that a 10 minute shower can use about 25 gallons of water! To help reduce your time in the shower, consider playing music to keep track of time and reduce water use.
Tip 2: Only Full Loads - While you can’t completely stop washing dishes or doing laundry to save water, you can wait until you have a full load to wash. Many dishwashers and clothes washers will use the same amount of water regardless of how big the load is. Next time, wait to press “Start” until you have a full load of clothes or dishes to conserve water and energy.
Tip 3: Switch to a Water-Wise Landscape - Irrigation is one of the highest water consumers. To reduce outdoor water use, consider switching to drought tolerant plants. Careful plant selection can make a huge difference in your water use. Plants such as white fir, yarrow, yucca, and sage are naturally adapted to thrive in low water conditions. Visit EnviroWoodland.org/Landscape for more plant suggestions.