By Cannon Christian<\/p>\n
The current drought is not something to take lightly \u2014 California is facing the worst water crisis in modern history.<\/p>\n
With a mandatory average conservation rate of 25 percent enacted in June, it\u2019s up to every individual to do their part to collectively make an impact.<\/p>\n
Many Californians know that they need to save water, but aren\u2019t always sure how to conserve and what will make a real difference. Here are five tips to help you tackle water waste and decrease overall usage at home:<\/p>\n
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- Fix up old faucets and leaks.\u00a0<\/strong>According to the\u00a0U.S. Environmental Protection Agency<\/a>(EPA), the average household\u2019s leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, or the amount of water needed to wash 270 loads of laundry. Dripping faucets, toilet flappers and showerheads are easily fixable and a sure way to conserve water, especially given that close to half of the water used in a home is in the bathroom.<\/li>\n
- Be conservative with laundry.\u00a0<\/strong>Don\u2019t just throw in a few dish rags that need washing \u2014 wait until you have full loads of clothes and other items in the washer before starting the cycle.\u00a0The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California<\/a>says that washing only full loads of laundry can save up to 50 gallons of water per week.<\/li>\n
- Replace your lawn with artificial turf and drought-tolerant landscaping.\u00a0<\/strong>If having a green lawn is important to you, replace grass with artificial turf. Though it can have a large upfront cost, it will pay for itself over time since artificial lawns typically last between 10 and 20 years. The EPA affirms that of the estimated 29 billion gallons of water used daily by households in the U.S., nearly 9 billion gallons, or 30 percent, is devoted to outdoor water use. Artificial turf is a big water saver \u2014 a typical pop-up sprinkler watering grass can put out four gallons of water per minute!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Drought-tolerant landscaping is another effective way to conserve H2O. The\u00a0San Diego County Water Authority<\/a>\u00a0has compiled a new \u201cNifty 50\u201d list, including 50 plants that are attractive, readily available in retail nurseries, non-invasive and easy to maintain.<\/p>\n
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- Bucket Up.\u00a0<\/strong>Keep buckets in areas where water is easily wasted around the home. When you take a shower, use a bucket to catch any excess water from the showerhead. When cooking, place a bucket underneath a strainer after boiling pasta and potatoes and reserve that water for your plants once it cools. Small steps like this can lead to big savings \u2013 you will be surprised to see how full your bucket will get by utilizing it as a conservation device.<\/li>\n
- Bring the family together.\u00a0<\/strong>Conduct a household meeting and develop creative ways to get everyone involved in water conservation at home. Get your kids excited \u2014 you can even implement a game or contest for the weekly or monthly \u201cwinning water saver.\u201d Who can keep their shower at less than five minutes the most times in one month? What\u2019s the smallest number of laundry loads you can accomplish in a given month? Have prizes for the winners \u2014 perhaps a water-savvy succulent. You can even create a drought-tolerant garden with the prizes, containing representative plants for each member of the family and their conservation efforts throughout the year.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The magnitude of the drought and what steps to take individually to conserve water can feel overwhelming, but incorporating small savings tools into daily activities at home will lead to big savings and smarter habits. Together, we can tackle the drought and create a better future for our state if we each make a concerted effort to decrease water waste.<\/p>\n
\u2014Cannon Christian is president of Renovation Realty, a full-service residential renovation contractor and real estate brokerage in San Diego that adds monetary value to customer homes by using its own capital to renovate properties before placing them on the market as the listing brokerage. Visit\u00a0<\/em>renovacionrealty.com<\/u><\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
Letters<\/h3>\n
Artful support<\/strong><\/p>\n
I am so proud of my wife, Marcia and my daughters [see \u201c#ArtYouEnjoy,\u201d Vol. 16, Issue 6<\/a>]. They have worked so hard and your piece was a very nice tribute to their effort. I of course wish them every success and love them and my other two children and grandchildren tremendously. I hope people in the community will support their business. It would be lovely to leave a legacy such as this to the family.<\/p>\n
\u2014Lee Adelman, via sandiegodowntownnews.com<\/em><\/p>\n
Good-looking walls<\/strong><\/p>\n
It\u2019s marvelous to see how San Diego\u2019s Downtown builders are integrating nature into the urban environment [see \u201cArt on the Land: \u2018Living Walls\u2019 bring life to the city,\u201d Vol. 16, Issue 6<\/a>]. These walls are spectacular \u2014 and just plain cool looking, too. Thank you Delle for the article and photos.<\/p>\n
\u2014Gayle Falkenthal, via sandiegodowntownnews.com<\/em><\/p>\n
The fairest civic organist<\/strong><\/p>\n
- Bring the family together.\u00a0<\/strong>Conduct a household meeting and develop creative ways to get everyone involved in water conservation at home. Get your kids excited \u2014 you can even implement a game or contest for the weekly or monthly \u201cwinning water saver.\u201d Who can keep their shower at less than five minutes the most times in one month? What\u2019s the smallest number of laundry loads you can accomplish in a given month? Have prizes for the winners \u2014 perhaps a water-savvy succulent. You can even create a drought-tolerant garden with the prizes, containing representative plants for each member of the family and their conservation efforts throughout the year.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Be conservative with laundry.\u00a0<\/strong>Don\u2019t just throw in a few dish rags that need washing \u2014 wait until you have full loads of clothes and other items in the washer before starting the cycle.\u00a0The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California<\/a>says that washing only full loads of laundry can save up to 50 gallons of water per week.<\/li>\n
![\"kn062715dAPCweb2\"](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/kn062715dAPCweb2.jpg\")
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