One Habit at a Time – Conserve More Water

How optimistic I sounded in November!  “We’ve already had our first raindrops of the season and let’s hope that we get more of them this year than we did last year.”  Well, we had our last significant raindrops in February, and this week the San Jose Mercury News reported:

“The driest March and early April in 70 years has turned what was looking like a wet year into a near-drought for California. …Amid the most severe water shortage in nearly 20 years, the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s board of directors voted unanimously to declare a water shortage emergency in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The plan forbids activities like washing a car while letting the hose run, washing sidewalks and patios instead of sweeping, running water fountains that don’t recycle water and watering lawns more than three times a week.”

Besides rereading the November article, also look at the excellent web page of the Santa Clara Water District: www.valleywater.org/conservation/  Currently they are offering rebates on low-flow toilets, clothes washers, and irrigation systems. Start by scheduling a Water-Wise House Call (800-548-1882).  They’ll measure your usage, give you free aerators and low-flow shower heads and calculate an optimal schedule for your sprinkler system.

If you’re thinking of changing your irrigation system or your landscape, read their Rules of Thumb for Water-Wise Gardening: www.valleywater.org/media/pdf/RulesOfThumb_web.pdf  

Palo Alto residents may also be eligible for rebates on EnergyStar dishwashers and other appliances. See www.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/utl/news/details.asp?NewsID=65&TargetID=12

Here are a few more ideas that we discussed at our Low Carbon Diet Workshop:
- Take a “navy shower”, turning off the water while you lather
- Consider whether you really need a full shower/bath/shampoo every day
- Consider whether you’re washing clothes, towels, sheets more often than you really need to
- Only run full loads in your dishwasher and washing machines
- Front-loading washing machines reduce the amount of water used in each load by about 50%.

EBMUD customers are being asked to cut their usage by 15%.  This should be an achievable goal for all of us.

First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto
www.fprespa.org/coolplanet
June, 2008