Some tips on how to eliminate wasteful water usage
Although California has been experiencing some of the wettest weather ever, for every day it does not rain or snow, California gradually returns to dry conditions.
“This may not end the drought, per se.” said Dale Hunter, whose Hunter Group works with the Metropolitan Water District “California must take action to store as much water as possible.”
While recent storms have helped the snowpack and reservoirs, groundwater basins are much slower to recover and still have a long way to go before they can be fully replenished following the prolonged drought.
With climate change vacillating between drought and flood, the state must implement new programs to manage water in our new climate reality. At a recent media briefing from Save Our Water, experts educated attendees about California’s new water reality, what is being done, and how readers can do their part to use water wisely.
“We all have a great role to play as individual Californians,” Hunter said.
“As California develops more swings between dry and wet periods, we must recognize the needs of our structure to adapt to the extremes of climate change,” said Nichole Morgan of the State Water Resources Control Board.
State is currently funding various projects, more than $8.6 billion was set aside for multiple years to support water capture, storage and resilience in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January budget proposal.
Some practical Save Our Water conservation tips for residents include: fixing toilet leaks and other leaks in the home; recycling indoor water and using it to irrigate gardens; installing aerators; washing full loads of clothes; lawn watering one day a week; and using a broom to clean outdoor areas.
“Filling the bathtub halfway or less can save 17 to 25 gallons of water per bath,” Hunter said, noting that those who take showers should limit their time to five minutes or take a military shower — turning off the water while lathering and washing, then turning the water on to rinse. “Which is short, brief and to the point.”
Conservation is achievable, according to Edgar Dymally of the Metropolitan Water District. He noted that locals used to use 208 gallons of water per person per day back in 1985. In 2020, that number was down to 127 gallons per person per day.
“That’s nearly a 40 percent drop in a 35-year per0iod,” Dymally said. “That’s considerable.”
Turf removal has become trendy in some areas, he noted, adding that residents’ replacement of lawns with drought tolerant landscapes have earned rebates and aided in water conservation.
“There are a number of water-saving devices,” Dymally added. “And a number of utilities are giving rain barrels away.”
Visit www.bewaterwise.com for additional water conservation measures, like installing a leak detector app on a cell phone.
In essence, the speakers noted they were looking to the future, when the weather will actually be getting hotter and drier due to climate change. All Californians need to make conservation a way of life.
For additional water saving tips and resources, including California native landscaping ideas, visit SaveOurWater.com.
