As it enters its fifth year, many people are still asking, “How serious is the California drought?” The answer is very. Though it’s easy for those living elsewhere in the nation to forget the problem as the news segment about California’s drought slowly fades or becomes routine, it’s important to remember that this is still a very real problem for the people living in California.
While political leaders and scientists squabble over how to solve a problem caused by resource mismanagement and changing weather conditions, those in and around the area can help save water. Allied Earth Sciences (AES) strongly believes the actions of many individuals reducing their water usage will save water California and impact the conditions in the state and recommends these water saving practices.
Here is what you can do to help with the California drought:
Fill ‘Er Up
One way to save water is to make sure appliances that use water are full before you run them. For example, fill the dishwasher and washing machine fully before turning them on. This will help to reduce the number of times they must be run, which means less cycles (less water).
The same holds true for the kitchen sink. When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink with water rather than letting the water run. Or Don’t let the water run while you wash/soap the dishes. Once you finish cleaning the grease off your dishes, then turn on the water to wash away the soapy dishes.
Save Water & Money
An easy way to save water that you’re not likely to notice is to install a low flow showerhead in your bathroom. You can also place an aerator on your kitchen sink, which will reduce the flow rate to less than one gallon of water per minute. Low flow toilets are also a good choice. This option is a bit more involved, but will save water and reduce your water bill over the long run.
Bathroom Basics
The bathroom is a good place to think about water consumption. Turn off the water after wetting your toothbrush rather than letting it run while you brush your teeth. The same goes for shaving. You can also try to cut your shower time if you can. A five-minute shower will get you just as clean as a ten minute one.
Lawn Care
Lawns and landscapes do start to look sad when they don’t get enough water. However, decreasing the watering won’t kill your landscapes. If you can, decrease the watering. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, water early or late in the day when it is cooler and adjust your sprinklers so that only plants are being watered. Don’t waste water wetting down the outside of the home or your driveway. Mulch around plants and tress to help the soil better hold water and use native plants when you can.
The above are easy and simple ways you can make an impact and help with California drought conditions. Practice these water saving techniques and feel food knowing you are making a difference.
Thank you for saving California. Be good to California and it will be good to you.
