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25 Things YOU Can Do To Prevent Water Waste
9 Things you can do to save water in the bathroom
- Check your toilets for leaks. Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately
- Stop using the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue, or other small bit of trash, you waste five to seven gallons of water
- Put plastic bottles in your toilet tank. To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles to weigh them down. Fill them with water and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from operating mechanisms. In an average home, the bottles may displace and save ten or more gallons of water a day.
- Take shorter showers. Long, hot showers can waste five to ten gallons every unneeded minute. Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down, and rinse off.
- Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. Your local hardware or plumbing supply store stocks inexpensive water-saving shower heads or restrictors that are easy to install.
- Take baths. A bath in a partially filled tub uses less water than all but the shortest showers.
- Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush. There is no need to keep water pouring down the drain. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.
- Rinse your razor in the sink. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your blade just as well as running water, and is far less wasteful.
- Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Even the smallest drip from a worn washer can waste 20 or more gallons a day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds.
6 Things you can do to save water in the kitchen and laundry
- Use your automatic dishwasher only for full loads.
- Use your automatic washing machine only for full loads.
- If you wash dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. If you have only one sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or a panful of hot water.
- Don’t let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Just rinse them in a stoppered sink or a pan of clean water.
- Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful.
- Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Leaks waste water 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and often can be repaired with only an inexpensive washer.
10 Things you can do to save water outside
- Water your lawn only when it needs it. A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn’t need water. If it stays flat, fetch the sprinkler.
- Deep-soak your lawn. When you do water, do it long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most good. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow root systems.
- Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning generally is better than dusk since it helps prevent growth of fungus.
- Don’t water the gutter. Position your sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paves areas. Also avoid watering on windy days.
- Plant drought-resistant trees and plants. Many beautiful trees and plants thrive with far less watering than other species.
- Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture and discourage weed growth, too.
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
- Don’t’ run the hose while washing your car. Clean the car with a pail of soapy water. Use the hose just to rinse it off.
- Tell your children not to play with the hose and sprinklers.
- Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets, and couplings. Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they’re not as visible. But they can be just as wasteful as leaks inside. Check frequently and keep them drip-free.
It’s Time to Get Serious about Saving Water
- The Bathroom :
1. Our toilet doesn’t leak
– Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If the coloring begins to appear in the bowl
without flushing you have a wasteful leak that should be repaired at once.
2. We don’t use our toilet as a wastebasket
– Flushing a used facial tissue down the toilet wastes about 2 gallons of water.
3. We have a toilet that uses only 1.6 gallons of water or less.
– All toilets sold after 1992 are required to use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. New
high-efficiency toilets operate very well with even less water. If you have an older toilet, you may
save from 2 to 4 gallons per flush by replacing it with a new model. You may also be eligible for
an incentive to lower the cost of that new toilet – check www.bewaterwise.com for more
information.
4. We take quick showers.
– Limit your showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down, and rinse off – 3 to 5 minutes.
Also, when waiting for the water to warm up, catch the cold water in a bucket; use it to flush the
toilet or help water the yard.
5. The adults in our family turn off the water while shaving.
– Fill the sink with a few inches of water in which to rinse your razor.
6. Our bathroom faucets and pipes do not leak.
7. We have installed water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors.
– Run your shower into a bucket for 30 seconds. If more than 1 1/2 gallons (6 quarts) of water are
in the bucket, you need a flow restrictor. Your hardware or plumbing supply store stocks
inexpensive, easy to install shower heads and flow restrictors that still give you cleansing,
refreshing showers.
8. We take baths with shallow water.
– A partially filled tub uses less water than all but the shortest showers.
9. We turn off the water while brushing our teeth.
– Before brushing, wet your brush and fill a glass of water for rinsing your mouth. - Kitchen and Laundry
10. We use the automatic dishwasher only for full loads.
– It uses less water than washing by hand.
11. We use the automatic washing machine only for full loads of laundry.
12. We don’t let the faucet run to clean vegetables.
13. We keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator.
– Running tap water to cool it for drinking wastes water.
14. When we wash dishes by hand, we don’t leave the water running for rinsing.
– If you have two sinks, fill one with rinse water. If you have only one sink, put your washed dishes
in a dish rack and rinse them quickly with a spray device or pan of water.
15. Our kitchen and laundry room faucets and pipes do not leak. - Outside
16. We water the lawn only when it needs it.
– Step on your grass. If it springs back when you life your foot, it doesn’t need water. Check
bewaterwise.com for tips on watering and plants. If you have an irrigation system, upgrade to a
Smart Controller that automatically adjusts the amount of water for weather conditions.
17. We water during the cool part of the day.
– Early morning is better than dusk, since it helps prevent the growth of fungus.
18. We deep soak our lawn.
– When you water your lawn, water it long enough for the water to seep down to the roots where
it is needed. A light sprinkling, which sits on the surface, will evaporate and be wasted.
19. We don’t water the gutter.
– Position your sprinklers so the water lands on your lawn or garden, not on concrete or other
paved areas. Also, avoid watering on windy days.
20. We’ve made our landscape California Friendly with trees and plants naturally suited to our
climate.
– Many beautiful trees and plants thrive with little water in our semiarid region.
21. We put a layer of mulch around trees and plants.
– Mulch slows the evaporation of moisture.
22. We use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
23. We don’t let the hose run while washing the car.
– Soap down your car from a pail of soapy water. Use a hose only to rinse it off.
24. The children do not play with the hose and sprinklers.
25. We have no leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets, and couplings.
– Leaks outside the house can be extremely wasteful. To check for hidden leaks in your pipes,
make sure no water is being used around the house and watch the water meter for 10-15
minutes. If the meter shows some movement during that time, you have a leak.
Easy Ways to Save Water
Little leaks can add up to a lot of waster water. A small drip can waste 70 gallons of water in a day, while a steady leak just one-sixteenth of an inch in size can send more than 1,000 gallons a day down the drain. Fix leaky faucets and toilets right away.
Pipe Leaks:
- Read your water meter
- Turn off all water-using appliances and faucets and wait an hour
- Read the meter again. If the meter has moved, you probably have a leak
Toilet Leaks:
- Put food coloring in your toilet tank and wait for 20 minutes
- If color seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak
Faucet Leaks:
- Listen for running water when plumbing fixtures are closed and water-using appliances are off.
- Check your taps a couple of times a year to make sure all faucets are working properly.
Laundry Room:
- Use the washing machine for full loads only to save water and enrgy.
- Install a water-efficient clothes washer
Kitchen:
- Run the dishwasher only when full to save water and energy.
- Install a water and energy efficient dishwasher
Bathroom:
- Install low-flow shower heads
- Take five minute showers instead of 10 minute showers.
- Fill the bathtub halfway or less.
- Install a high-efficiency toilet
- Install aerators on bathroom faucets
- Turn water off when brushing teeth, or shavings
- Don’t use the toilet as wastebasket
Landscape:
- Reduce your watering days to once or twice per week. Water your lawn only when it needs it. Water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cool.
- Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn in watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street
- Choose a water-efficient irrigation system such as drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs, and flowers.
- Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation and keep the soil cool. Organic mulch also improves the soil and prevents weeds.
- Plant drought-resistant trees and plants.
Activities:
- Teach children that your hose and sprinkler are not toys.
- Install a pool/spa cover to reduce evaporation and filter backwash.
- If draining a pool is necessary, find a use for the water
- Check your pool and pool plumbing for leaks.
ABC’s of H2O
A is for Aqueduct – a man made canal used to carry water from one place to another.
B is for Brushing – remember to turn the faucet off when brushing your teeth
C is for Colorado – an aqueduct that delivers water to Southern River California
D is for Drought – a long period of time with little or no rainfall
E is for Electricity – water produces energy to make electricity
F is for Filtration – filtration plants are when dirty water is cleaned and purified
H is for Hydrogen – water is made up of 2 parts hydrogen and 1 part oxygen
I is for Irrigation – a method farmers use to water their crops
J is for Jellyfish – a transparent sea creature that is 95% water
K is for Kids – we love water-wise kids!
L is for Los Angeles – an aqueduct that is the major source of water for the city of Los Angeles
M is for Millions – nearly 18 million people use water in Southern California
N is for Never – NEVER changes…it always remains the same
O is for Ocean – the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world
P is for Precipitation – the water which falls to the earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
Q is for Quality – water quality means water that is safe to drink
R is for Reservoir – a place where water is stored for future use
S is for Shower – take short showers to save water
T is for Transpiration – the evaporation of water through the leaves of plants
U is for Underground – groundwater is water that is stored Underground
V is for Vapor – water in the form of gas
W is for Water Cycle – the continuous natural cycle of water in the environment
X is for Xeriscape – a garden or landscape using water-saving plants
Y is for YOU – YOU must teach others the importance of saving water
Z is for Zanjas – ditches that carried water to Los Angeles over 200 years ago
Homeowners Checklist – How to Make Your Home Fire Safe
OUTSIDE:
- Design / Construction
– Use ignition resistant construction for roofs/ roof assemblies, gutters, vents, decks, exterior walls, exterior windows
– Enclose the underside of eaves, balconies, and aboveground decks with fire resistant materials
– Show your 100 feet Defensible Space on plot plan
– Build your home away from ridge tops, canyons, and areas between high points on a ridge
– Consider installing residential sprinklers
– Make sure that electric service lines, fuse boxes, and circuit breaker panels are installed and maintained per code
– Contact qualified individuals to perform electrical maintenance and repairs - Access
– Make sure that your street name sign is visibly posted at each street intersection
– Post your house address so it is easily visible from the street, especially at night
– Address numbers should be at least 3 inches tall and on a contrasting background
– Identify at least two exit routes form your neighborhood
– Clear flammable vegetation at least 10 feet from roads and five feet form driveways
-Cut back overhanding tree branches above access roads
– Construct roads that allow two-way traffic
-Make sure dead-end roads, and long drive ways have turn-around areas wide enough for emergency vehicles
– Design bridges to carry heavy emergency vehicles
– Post clear road signs to show traffic restrictions such as dead-end roads, and weight and height limitations - Roof
– Install a fire resistant roof. Contact your local fire department for current roofing requirements.
– Remove dead leaves and needles from your roof and gutters.
– Remove dead branches overhanging your roof and keep branches 10 feet from your chimney.
– Cover your chimney outlet and stovepipe with an nonflammable screen of 1/2 inch or smaller mesh - Landscape
– Create a Defensible Space of 100 feet around your home. It is required by law
– Create a “LEAN, CLEAN, AND GREEN ZONE” by removing all flammable vegetation within 30 feet immediately surrounding your home
– Then create a “REDUCED FUEL ZONE” in the remaining 70 feet or to your property line
– You have two options in this area:
a) Create horizontal and vertical spacing between plants. The amount of space will depend on how steep your property is and the size of your plants.
b) Large trees do not have to be removed as long as all the plants beneath them are removed.
– Remove lower tree branches at least six feet from the ground
– Landscape with fire resistant plants
– Maintain all plants with regular water, and keep dead branches, leaves, and needles removed.
– Wen clearing vegetation, use care when operating equipment such as lawnmowers. One small spark may start a fire; a string trimmer is much safer. - Yard
– Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and remove vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles
– Locate LPG tanks (butane and propane) at least 30 feet from any structure and maintain 10 feet of clearance
– Remove all stacks of construction materials, pine needles, leaves and other debris form your yard
– Contact your local fire department to see if debris burning is allowed in your area; If so, obtain a burning permit and follow all local air quality restrictions - Emergency Water Supply
– Maintain an emergency water supply that meets fire department standards through one of the following
a) a community water/hydrant system
b) a cooperative emergency storage tank with neighbors
c) a minimum storage supply of 2,500 gallons on your property (like a pond or pool)
– Clearly mark all emergency water sources
– Create easy firefighter access to your closest emergency water source
– If your water comes from a well, consider an emergency generator to operate the pump during a power failure
Homeowners Checklist – How to Make your Home Fire Safe
INSIDE:
- Kitchen
– Keep a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen
– Maintain electric and gas stoves in good operating condition
– Keep baking soda on hand to extinguish stove-top grease fires
– Turn the handles of pots and pans away from the front of the stove
– Install curtains and towel holders away from stoveburners
– Store matches and lighters out of reach of children
– Make sure that electrical outlets are designed to handle appliance loads - Living Room
– Install a screen in front of fireplace or wood stove
– Store the ashes from your fireplace (and barbecue) in a metal container and dispose of only when cold
– Clean fireplace chimneys and flues at leas once a year - Hallway
– Install smoke detectors between living and sleeping areas
– Test smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries twice a year, when clocks are changed in the spring and fall
– Replace electrical cords that do not work properly, have loose connections, or are frayed - Bedroom
– If you sleep with the door closed, install a smoke detector in the bedroom
– Turn off electric blankets and other electrical appliances when not in use
– Do not smoke in bed
– If you have security bards on your windows or doors, be sure they have an approved quick release mechanism so you and your family can get out in the event of a fire - Bathroom
– Disconnect appliances such as curling irons and hair dryers when done; store in a safe location until cool
– Keep items such as towels away from wall and floor heaters - Garage
– Mount a working fire extinguisher in the garage
– Have tools such as a shovel, hoe, rake, and bucket available for use in a wildfire emergency
– Install a solid door with self-closing hinges between living areas and the garage
– Dispose of oily rags in Underwriters Laboratories approved metal containers
– Store all combustibles away from ignition sources such as water heaters
– Disconnect electrical tools and appliances when not in use
– Allow hot tools such as glue guns and soldering irons to cool before storing
– Properly store flammable liquids in approved containers and away from ignition sources such as pilot lights
*Disaster Preparedness*
– Maintain at least a three-day supply of drinking water, and food that does not require refrigeration and generally does not need cooking
– Maintain a portable radio, flashlight, emergency cooking equipment, lanterns and batteries
– Outdoor cooking appliances such as barbecues should never be taken indoors for use as heaters
– Maintain first aid supplies to treat the injured until help arrives
– Keep a list of valuables to take with you in an emergency; if possible, store these valuables together
– For safety, securely attach all water heaters and furniture such as cabinets and bookshelves to walls
– Have a contingency plan to enable family members to contact each other. Establish a family/friend phone tree
– Designate an emergency meeting place outside your home
– Practice emergency exit drills in the house (EDITH) regularly
– Make sure that all family members understand how to STOP, DROP, AND ROLL if their clothes should catch fire
Water Facts
- Water is made up of two elements, hydrogen and oxygen. Its chemical formula is H2O
- Each molecule of water is made up of two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom.
- The existence of water is essential for life on Earth.
- Water has three different states: liquid, solid, and gas
- The word water usually refers to water in its liquid state. The solid state of water is known as ice while the gas state of water is known as steam or water vapor.
- Water covers around 70% of the Earth’s surface.
- The three largest oceans on Earth are the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean.
- Found in the Pacific Ocean, the Mariana Trench is the deepest known point in the world’s oceans.
- Ocean tides are caused by the rotation of the Earth and the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun acting on ocean water.
- Water from a sea or ocean is known as seawater. On average, every kilogram of seawater contains around 35 grams of dissolved salt.
- The freezing point of water lowers as the amount of salt dissolved in at increases. With average levels of salt, seawater freezes at -2 degrees Celsius.
- The longest river in the world is the Nile River. It reaches 6650 kilometers in length (4132 miles)
- The second longest river in the world is the Amazon River. It reaches 6400 kilometers (4000 miles in length).
- The longest river in the USA is the Missouri River. At around2,340 miles in length it is slightly longer than the Mississippi River. The two combine to form the longest river system in North America.
- Water makes a good solvent with many sugar, salts, and acids easily dissolving in it. On the other hand oils and fats don’t mix well with water.
- The water cycle involves water evaporating (turning into a gas), rising to the sky, cooling and condensing into tiny drips of water or ice crystals that we see as clouds, falling back to Earth as rain, snow, or hail before evaporating again and continuing the cycle.
- Water in the form of ice is found at the polar ice caps of the planet Mars, some scientists have also suggested the possibility of liquid water on the red planet.
- Pure water has no smell and no taste, it also has a pH level around 7.
- While most people know that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius, this is at the normal conditions of sea level. The boiling point of water actually changes relative to the barometric pressure. For example, water boils at just 68 degrees Celsius on the top of Mount Everest while water deep in the ocean near geothermal vents can remain in liquid form at temperatures much higher than 100 degrees Celsius.
- Water expands as it cools from 4 degrees Celsius to 0 degrees Celsius. In freezing conditions, water has been known to burst water pipes as it freezes to ice.
- Water can move up narrow tubes against the force of gravity in what is known as capillary action.
- Most people around the world have access to clean drinking water but it is a major problem in poorer areas of the world. Water pollution and low quality water can lead to dangerous bacteria, disease, and viruses such as E coli and Cryptosporidium.
- Drinking water is needed for humans to avoid dehydration, the amount you need each day depends on the temperature, how much activity you are involved in and other factors.
- An important use for water is in agricultural irrigation, this is when water is artificially added to soil in order to assist the growth of crops.
- Water is used frequently by firefighters to extinguish fires. Helicopters sometimes drip large amount of water on wildfires and bushfires to stop fires spreading and limit the damage they can cause.
- The water industry helps deliver water to home in various cities and countries around the world . This can involve services such as purification, sewage treatment, filtering, distillation, and plumbing.
- Electricity can be created from hydropower, a process that uses water to drive water turbines connected to generators. There are many hydroelectric power stations around the world.
- Water also plays a role in cooking. Steaming and boiling food are well known cooking methods. You may have notices this last time you made pasta or noodles.
- Water is also used for fun. Water sports are a very popular recreational activity and include things like swimming, surfing, and waterskiing. Ice and snow is also used in ice skating, ice hockey, skiing, and snowboarding.
Wildfire Actions
What to do BEFORE a wildland fire:
- Create defensible space to separate your home from flammable vegetation and materials.
- Adhere to all local fire and building codes and weed abatement ordinances.
- Keep all trees and shrub limbs trimmed so they do not come into contact with electrical wires or overhand your chimney. (Do not trim around live power lines yourself, call a professional)
- Prune all lower branches 8 feet from the ground.
- Keep trees adjacent to buildings free of dead or dying branches.
- Stack firewood away from your home and other buildings (Keep clearance around your piles)
- Keep roof surfaces clear of pine needles, leaves and debris at all times.
- Install spark arresters for each chimney
- Clean chimneys and check the maintain spark arresters twice a year.
- Keep rain gutters clear of debris at all times.
- Use approved fire resistant materials when building, renovating, or retrofitting structures.
- Install electrical lines underground if possible.
- Be sure your house numbers show clearly from the street, both day and night.
- Store combustible or flammable materials in approved containers.
- Store all important papers in a fireproof container or keep copies at another location.
- Make evacuation plans with family members. Include several options with an outside meeting place and contact person. Practice regularly.
- Keep battery operated radios and flashlights with additional fresh batteries on hand.
What to do DURING a wildland fire:
- Turn on a battery operated radio to get latest emergency information.
- If you have a ladder, prop it against the house so you and firefighters have access to roof.
- If hoses and adequate water are available set them up. Fill buckets with water.
- Remove combustible materials form the area surrounding your house.
- Turn a light on in each room for visibility in case of smoke.
- Close all doors and windows, but do not lock them.
- Open or take down flammable drape and curtains.
- Close all venetian blinds and non-flammable window coverings.
- Move upholstered furniture away from windows and sliding glass doors.
- Be ready to evacuate all family members and pets when requested to do so.
- Turn off air conditioning/ air circulation systems.
- Detach electrical garage doors. Back in your car and leave the keys in the ignition.
- Secure your pets if possible.
What to do AFTER a wildland fire:
- Check with fire officials before attempting to return to your home.
- Use caution when re-entering a burned area – flare-ups can occur.
- Check grounds for hot spots smoldering stumps and vegetation. Use your buckets of water.
- Check the roof and exterior areas for sparks and embers.
- Check the attic and throughout the house for hidden burning sparks and embers.
- Continue to check for problem areas for several days.
- Contact 911 if any danger is perceived.
- If burning outside your home was extensive, watch for soil erosion.
- Consult local experts on the best way to restore and replant your land with fire safe landscaping.