Big news today about California’s drought: the San Francisco Chronicle reports $500 per day water fines have passed the California legislature. Water wasters now face serious penalties, so now seems like a good time to share some water saving tips for our Bay Area new home owners.
Wateruseitwisely has an abundance of information on judicious water use including tips for kids, tips for indoor and outdoor water use, plant care, and even a monthly water planner. We took a look at the list and learned a few things we though worth sharing:
- If you drop ice cubes, don’t put them in the sink. Put them in a house plant. Similarly, while you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants or make ice.
- Soak pots and pans in the sink instead of letting the water run while dish washing.
- Take a shower instead of a bath. A bath requires 70 gallons of water.
- Don’t launder towels after just one use – reuse towels
- Patronize car washes that use recycled water.
These are just a few tips. With the drought expected to last through 2015, even if this is an El Nino year, we’re all going to be expected to conserve water, and pay fines if we don’t.