California’s governor, Jerry Brown, officially declared our state’s drought was over last spring, thanks to our third wettest Winter in 40 years (with a 165% above-normal rainfall). We can continue to celebrate this great news by continuing to not waste water.
Updated 1/2014
Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency in California, saying this is “perhaps the worst drought California has ever seen since records began being kept about 100 years ago,” and cited a need for conservation efforts.
Saving water can be done easily, with small steps that keeps our water bill low and our water reservoirs high!
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Shut off the water while you brush your teeth
Did you know that leaving the water running while you’re brushing your teeth wastes up to 6 litres of water a minute and 35000 litres of water per family, per year! The simple step of turning off the faucet while brushing & swishing adds up to a huge difference in our fresh water supply.
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Take showers that are a minute or two shorter
Simliar to leaving the faucet running when brushing your teeth — imagine how much water is wasted while we’re in the shower! Another option is to turn off the water while you are shampooing or conditioning your hair. Low flow shower heads help save water, plus many have buttons that can easily be pressed to stop water flow without turning the water completely off when you’re in the middle of your shower.
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Only flush the toilet when you need to
There’s a saying… but that may not be appropriate for your household or office. Consider getting a water saving toilet instead.
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Only run full loads of laundry and dishes
We live in a world of convenience and it’s easy to forget how much energy and water is spent when we press a button. Running a full load of laundry or dishes, not only saves electricity and water, it can be time-saving for you too.
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Buy from sustainable producers
These are farmers, ranchers, and other producers that use techniques that pollute less and use less water. You can do some research online or ask at your local organic market to find these products.
Making small changes in how we use water adds up — in our water bills and our water supply!