Conservation Frequently Asked Question

Q. How can I save water and money on my next bill?
A. First, be aware that most households in the desert use 70 to 80 percent of the water outside on landscaping, washing cars, hosing driveways and filling pools. Therefore, smarter water management outside the home will have the most significant overall impact on your water use and water bill.

Here are some conservation tips for outside the home:

1. Adjust your irrigation time with the seasons. An average spray irrigation system needs only to run 3-4 minutes per day in the winter to keep grass healthy.
2. Replace at least a portion of your grass with water-efficient landscaping, rocks and decomposed granite. Converting an all-grass lawn to all desert landscaping can result in a 70 percent reduction in water use. Coachella Valley Water District's landscaping guide Lush & Efficient Gardening in the Coachella Valley offers more than 100 examples of colorful options that require little water.
3. Sprinklers should be positioned to water the yard, not sidewalks and streets. Try changing the angle of a sprinkler head or using a type that sprays fl at to avoid water loss due to wind. Move sprinkler heads 12-18 inches from hardscape, designing the edges of the yard with water-efficient plants on a drip irrigation system.
4. Use a broom instead of the hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. Don't let the hose run when washing a car, but instead use a nozzle that can be turned off when water isn't needed.

Here are some conservation tips for inside the home:

1. Replace worn-out fixtures, washers and o-rings to avoid leaking faucets. Small leaks in faucets and toilets can waste 200 gallons per day. Moderate leaks can waste 800 gallons per day.
2. To determine if you have a leak in your system, shut off all water-using fixtures and the irrigation system and look at your meter (be careful of spiders or bees under the lid). If the dial is showing water use, despite everything being turned off , there is a leak. For small leaks you may have to note the dial position and return several minutes later to see if there has been movement.