Water Conservation
One
of the biggest barriers to water conservation is the perception of
conservation itself. There are many ways to look at the term conservation.
It can be approached either as a cost-benefit model that involves
trade-offs, it can be see as simply meaning deprivation, or it can
be looked at as a healthy model of improved efficiency. Today, conservation
generally refers to efficiency of use. Conservation no longer means
depriving oneself or having to give up something in order to retain
other benefits. Now, water conservation is the ability to enhance
efficiency without detriment to your water system.
Water
conservation is the most powerful tool that California has in addressing
water shortages. In preparation for drought conditions, it is important
to place an emphasis on water conservation. It is estimated that off-the-shelf
conservation can conserve 1.5-2 million acre-feet of water per year
(equivalent to nearly 500 to more than 650 trillion gallons), enough
water to provide 3-4 million homes with water for an entire year.
There are many approaches to water conservation. Some of the basic
ones are repairing leaks, purchasing low-flow appliances, being alert
to water wasting actions, native plantings, rain gardens, and "smart"
sprinklers.
Water
consumption can be significantly reduced in the home without giving
up comfort and convenience. One of the most common household water-wasters
is leaks. A faucet leaking one drop per second wastes roughly 2,400
gallons per year, the equivalent of 160 full cycles in an automatic
dishwasher! The California
Water Service Group is one of many resources that provides tips
and guidelines on checking for water leaks (among other conservation
measures). One tip to test for a leaky toilet is to put a few drops
of food coloring in the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl after
15-30 minutes without flushing then there is a leak in the toilet
tank that needs repair.
Low-flow appliances are an excellent way to conserve water. Many water
suppliers offer rebates to their consumers when they install low-flow
fixtures. Some make it mandatory for all new structures to be equipped
with low-flow fixtures. A low-flow washing machine saves 5,200 gallons
of water a year! Using low-flow toilets is another strategy that many
agencies have been requiring of their customers. In the past couple
years, low-flow toilets have been greatly improved so they are now
much more efficient and are equivalent to the older, regular toilets,
no longer needing multiple flushes that some of the previous models
required.
Raising
the consciousness of the residents in your water system can be a very
effective tool in water conservation. Residential water conservation
can be achieved through minor habit changes such as turning off the
tap while brushing teeth or shaving and by keeping a pitcher of water
in the refrigerator so the tap does not need to run to get cold when
the resident wants a drink. More conscientious residents can take
further measures such as catching shower water in buckets when waiting
for the shower to heat up and using the water to water plants and,
where possible, washing their cars on the lawn thus using the water
to irrigate the lawn.
Xeriscaping,
or landscaping to conserve water, can produce a beautiful landscape
that isn't necessarily cactus or other desert plantings. Planting
native landscaping is another viable method of water conservation.
Native vegetation is acclimated to the natural rain fall in their
region, therefore, does not require much additional irrigation. The
sites below all feature information on plants native to California
and how they can be used in xeriscapes.
In addition
to native landscaping, rain gardens are a great way to not only feature
native plants but also to facilitate water absorption into the ground.
Rain gardens are quick-draining, plant-filled, shallow depressions
in landscapes that help draw water into the ground while naturally
filtering it. A proper rain garden will absorb all the water within
48 hours, not allowing time for a mosquito breeding ground to form.
"Smart" watering
systems are the up and coming stars of the water conservation culture.
These smart systems can be controlled by satellite or other means
to match water conditions. This would enable the watering system to
"know" when it's raining so it does not water. Another option is to
connect the water system to moisture sensors in the soil to determine
when the land is in need of irrigation. While this new technology
may not yet be economical for residential users it is highly recommended
for large-scale commercial irrigators. The Metropolitan Water District
of Southern California is even granting subsidies to commercial consumers
toward the purchase of the new smart systems.
It is important
for your water system to have conservation guidelines in place prior
to the occurrence of a drought or other water shortage. These water
conservation guidelines should call for actions to be taken at different
stages in the drought to mitigate the impacts felt by all sectors.
California Water Code Sections 375
and 1,009
grant water purveyors the authority to prohibit waste and require
conservation when faced with a water shortage. It further allows them
to call on their attorney to act as a special prosecutor for water
violations. Many water systems already have such conservation guidelines
in place. It is highly recommended that all water systems enact special
water conservation ordinances or regulations. To see some sample conservation
programs, please click on the name of the program below:
There are a number
of other websites and resources available that deal with water conservation.
Some of these resources include:
