| TIPS FOR SAVING WATER AT HOME |
| Indoors |
Estimated Savings |
| Run the dishwasher only when full |
2-4.5 gallons per load |
| Turn off water when rinsing dishes (Also turn off faucet run when cleaning vegetables--rinse them in a sink of clean water.) |
2.5 gallons per minute |
| Shorten showers (Install a water-saving shower head. As a residential customer, you can get one for free at the Utilities Customer Service Center. Or check your hardware or plumbing supply store for an inexpensive shower head that's easy to install and gives you a cleansing and refreshing shower.) |
2.5 gallons per minute |
| Fill the bathtub half full when bathing |
15-25 gallons per bath |
| Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket |
1.6 gallons per flush |
| Wash only full loads of clothes |
15-50 gallons per load |
Fix leaky toilets* (Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If the coloring begins to appear in the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a wasteful leak that should be repaired at once. Even a small leak can waste thousands of gallons per month.)
* Put a plastic container or displacement bag in your toilet tank. Put an inch or two of sand or pebbles in the bottom of a quart or larger container and fill the rest of the container with water. Put the cap on and place the bottle in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanism. The container will save on each flush without impairing the efficiency of the toilet. Also consider buying an ultra low-flush toilet which uses only 1.6 instead of 3.5 to 5 gallons per flush. |
30-50 gallons per day per toilet |
| Fix leaky faucets/pipes |
15-20 gallons per day per leak |
| Install aerators with flow restrictors on kitchen/bathroom faucets |
4.7 gallons per day |
| Turn off the water while brushing your teeth |
3 gallons each time you brush |
| Turn off the water while you shave (Just fill the sink with a little water and rinse your razor) |
3 gallons each time you shave |
| Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator, so you won't have to run the tap to cool it. |
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| Outdoors: |
Estimated Savings: |
| Water only before 6 a.m. and after 8 p.m. (Change outdoors watering schedule seasonally. Water deeply and less frequently.) |
20-25 gallons per day |
| Reduce irrigation cycle by 1-3 minutes or eliminate one irrigation cycle per week. |
15-25 gallons for each minute
or up to 250 gallons per cycle |
| Adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and runoff. |
15-25 gallons per day |
| Repair leaks and broken sprinkler heads |
20 gallons per day per leak |
| Add 2” to 3” of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation |
20-30 gallons per day per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Install water-efficient drip irrigation system for trees, shrubs, and flowers to get water to the plant’s roots more efficiently |
20-25 gallons per day |
| Upgrade to a “smart irrigation controller” that automatically adjusts watering times for hotter weather, and shuts down the system when it rains |
40 gallons per day |
Replace lawn with native and California-friendly plants
Click here for information on xeriscape gardening. |
33-60 gallons per day per 1,000 sq. ft.
depending on climate |
| Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks |
8-18 gallons per minute |
Use a self-closing nozzle to wash your car - don’t just let the water run
(As an Alhambra resident you can obtain a free nozzle at the Utilities Department Customer Service Center.) |
8-18 gallons per minute |
| Repair any leaks around pool and spa pumps |
20 gallons per day per leak |
| Install covers on pools and spas to reduce evaporation |
30 gallons per day |
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| HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WATER-SAVING IDEAS |
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WAYS TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY
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Home Repair Projects:
- Use water-based paints whenever possible. Look for products labeled "latex" or "cleans with water."
- Do not clean brushes or rinse containers in the gutter. For water-based paint, rinse them in the sink. For oil-based paint, clean them with thinner, which can be filtered and reused. Take leftover paint to a household hazardous waste collection site to be recycled.
- Paint-stripping residue, chips and dust from marine paints and paints containing lead or tributyl tin are hazardous wastes. Sweep them up and take them in a sealed container to a household hazardous waste collection site.
- Rinse off cement mixers and cement laden tools in a contained washout area that cannot flow to your lot drain. Allow cement waste to dry, and then discard with your household trash.
- Schedule grading and excavation projects for dry weather. Order only the amount of material needed to complete the project. Keep all construction debris away from the street, gutter and storm drains.
- Prevent erosion and sediment runoff by covering excavated material and piles of asphalt, sand and similar materials with a plastic tarp.
- Never dispose of cement washout or concrete dust into driveways, streets, gutters or storm drains.
Vehicle Maintenance:
- Check your vehicle frequently for leaks. Use kitty litter or other absorbent materials to clean spills and dispose of waste properly.
- Take used motor oil and filters to a Certified Oil Recycling Center; Click here for locations.
- Dispose of antifreeze at a hazardous materials collection center or roundup;
Click here for more information.
- Conserve water when washing your car and use biodegradable soap. Consider using a self-serve or automated car wash facility that recycles water.
Yard Maintenance:
- Minimize the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and don't apply if it is windy or about to rain.
- Always pick up pet waste and dispose of it in the trash.
- Pool Maintenance: All pool water discharged to the curb/gutter must meet the following criteria: the residual chlorine must not exceed 0.1 mg/L (parts per million), pH is between 6.5 and 8.5, water does not have unusual coloration, no filter media can be discharged, and no acid cleaning wastes can be discharged.
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