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THIS IS ONE BET YOU CAN’T LOSE!
 Historic
dry conditions, coupled with legal and regulatory
constraints on water deliveries to Southern California, make
it essential for all of us to consider water efficiency a
priority. If everyone saved 20 gallons of water a day, our
region would be protected against severe water shortages
this summer—and saving water is easier than you may think. A
few simple changes in routine can make a big difference in
your water usage. As much as half of all water use in Santa
Monica is spent on landscape irrigation and other outdoor
purposes, so make sure you think inside and out to maximize
water savings.
Implement the following water-saving strategies
now, and we all reap the benefit!
| TIPS FOR LANDSCAPE WATER
SAVINGS |
ESTIMATED WATER SAVINGS |
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- Run the dishwasher only when
full
- Turn off water while rinsing
dishes
- Turn off water while
brushing teeth
- Shorten showers
- Don’t use the toilet as a
wastebasket
- Wash only full loads of
clothes
- Fix leaky toilets
- Fix leaky faucets
- Install aerators with flow
restrictors on all
sink faucets
- Replace older, inefficient
clothes washers
($100 rebate
available*)
- Replace older, high-volume
flushing toilets
($35-$245 rebate*)
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2.5 gallons /load
2.5 gallons/minute
2 gallons/minute
2.5 gallons/minute
2 gallons/flush
15-50 gallons/load
30-50 gallons/day per toilet
15-20 gallons/day per leak
5 gallons/day
20-30 gallons/load
2-4 gallons/flush
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| * For rebate information on
efficient washers and toilets, visit
www.smepd.org
or call toll-free (866) 728-3229. |
| TIPS FOR LANDSCAPE WATER
SAVINGS |
ESTIMATED WATER SAVINGS |
- Water before 6 a.m. and after 10 p.m. to
reduce evaporation and wind effect
- Reduce each irrigation cycle by 1-3
minutes, or
eliminate one irrigation cycle per week.
Create a
custom watering schedule
- Water only after the top inch of soil is
dry
- Reset irrigation controllers and replace
batteries in
the spring and fall
- Hand-water with a hose that is equipped with
a shut-off
nozzle instead of using automatic sprinkler
system
- Adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and
runoff
- Repair leaks and broken sprinkler heads
- Add 2” to 3” of mulch around trees and
plants to reduce evaporation
- Install water-efficient drip irrigation
system to get water to the plant’s roots more
efficiently. Grants are available up to $20,000.
Visit
www.smepd.org or call toll-free (866)
728-3229 for details.
- Upgrade to a “smart” irrigation controller
that automatically adjusts watering times for
hotter weather and shuts down the system when it
rains. For rebate details, visit
www.mwdsaveabuck.com or call toll-free (877)
728-2282.
- Replace a portion of lawn with native or
climate-appropriate plants. NOTE: Best done
after winter rains begin. For great examples,
check out
www.bewaterwise.com.
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20-25 gallons/day
15-25 gallons/min up to 250 gallons
per cycle
20-60 gallons/day
15-25 gallons/day
20 gallons/day per leak
20-30 gallons/day per 1,000 sq. ft.
20-25 gallons/day
40 gallons/day
33-60 gallons/day per 1,000 sq. ft.
(depending on climate) |
For
additional outdoor water-saving tips, and for more
information on the city’s
water conservation efforts, please visit
www.smepd.org or call (866) 728-3229. |
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BUILDING ON OUR
SUSTAINABILITY SUCCESSES!
Thirteen years ago, Santa Monica launched the
Sustainable City Plan, a visionary map to the
community’s future. With extensive public
participation in its development, the plan was
designed to help each of us make positive
contributions to our community’s environmental,
social and economic viability. That vision has
become reality, and Santa Monica is now an
internationally recognized and award-winning
sustainable city.
To build on the plan’s success and to create new
opportunities for incorporating sustainability
into our lives, the Sustainable City Task Force
recommended the creation of a new staff
position to help residents, businesses, community
groups and others identify new ways to meet
Santa Monica’s sustainability goals. Traci Reitz
has been hired as the community sustainability
liaison, and she is eager to meet and talk with
community members about sustainability goals
and objectives and how to achieve them.
To learn more about the Sustainable City Plan,
please visit
www.smepd.org. To contact Traci,
please visit
www.SustainableSantaMonica.org. |
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