After two years of good rains, California is once again experiencing a period of drought. Managing editor Tami Roleff has some tips on how local residents can conserve water…
Due to the drought, residents are urged to conserve water. Some easy ways to cut back on your water usage include turning off your faucet when you brush your teeth or do the dishes. (Or better yet, use the dishwasher instead of washing by hand; the dishwasher uses four gallons for an entire load, as opposed to two gallons per minute for washing by hand.) Take shorter showers; each minute in the shower is 2 ½ gallons. Repair leaks in your faucets and toilets. And install a water efficient plumbing fixtures. Do laundry only when you have a full load, even if your washer has an adjustable load setting. Use a broom to clean your sidewalks instead of a hose. Irrigation is the largest use of water; cut back your irrigation by planting native desert plants.
Easy ways to reduce water use:
— Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth or doing the dishes, you’ll save 2 gallons per minute.
— Take shorter showers. Each minute you cut saves 2.5 gallons.
— Install a high-efficiency showerhead.
— Operate your clothes and dishwashers with full loads only, even if the machine has an adjustable load setting.
— Use a broom to clean sidewalks, driveways and pavement instead of a hose.
— Reduce outdoor watering needs by planting species appropriate for the Bay Area’s dry climate.
— Water during the coolest part of the day.
— Detect leaks. If you hear the toilet running or your faucet dripping, contact the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for information on locating your water meter and detecting plumbing leaks using meter readings. Or, conduct a dye-test in toilet tanks to identify silent leaks.
— Install aerators on bathroom and kitchen sinks to reduce indoor water use by about 4 percent.
— Pick up free efficient conservation plumbing fixtures at 525 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bring proof of address.
