Suggestions from the Central Sierra Watershed Committee

Practical and Economical Water Saving Tips for Home and Business

As residents of the foothill and valley communities, we are becoming increasingly aware of how important it is to protect our precious water resources. During the last few summers we have received numerous requests to reduce our use of water. We have also been notified that water we drink exceeds quality standards set by the EPA. Whether you have a private well or septic system, or are connected to a centralized water and sewage system, the challenges we face in our communities are the same: we all need a reliable source of quality water for drinking, cooking and general use for our homes and businesses. The U.S. is the wastes more water than any other country in the world!

Simple ideas to save water

There are simple and convenient ways to save water:

• We can begin to achieve savings by how efficiently water is pumped, pressurized and heated!
• Inexpensive water saving devices can be purchased at the local hardware store, plumbing supply or even by mail order.
• Many of us are well acquainted with the “low tech” approach of putting a brick in the toilet reservoir.
• There are now many brands of water efficient toilets that can save hundreds of gallons of water annually.
• Taking a shower rather than a bath can also save water. To save even more water replace that old showerhead with a 1.8 to 2.5 gallon per minute flow rating unit, and if possible, include a shut-off lever. Both these items can save water and reduce your energy costs.
• Fix leaking faucets and water hoses to conserve water. A slow, steady drip can waste 350 gallons per month.
• Change to drip irrigation systems with timers, rather than using sprinklers or open watering for landscaping and gardening.
• When buying a new washing machine, purchase a water and energy saving model and remember to look for the Energy Star.
• Decrease your wash cycle time and increase your load of laundry.
• Using your dishwashers efficiently can also save water. Wait until it has a full load of dishes rather than washing partial loads. Wash small loads of dishes by hand to reduce your water use and energy costs.
• Fall is the best time of year to mulch landscape plants to protect them from winter weather and allow mulch to assimilate into the soil for water conservation in the spring and summer.
• Shut off the water while brushing your teeth.
• Don’t wash your driveway.

• There are new products that provide instant hot water at the tap or “on demand” tankless water heaters that are triggered by turning on the faucet to heat as much water as needed instantly, saving both water and gas or electricity.
• Relatively inexpensive circulation pumps are available which can be installed on hot water systems. The system works well by providing hot water on demand to all plumbing fixtures thereby eliminating unnecessary water use while waiting for the water to get hot.

• Utilizing landscaping that is fire resistant and drought tolerant, augmented with drip irrigation systems with timers.
• Planting native oaks that require little or no watering instead of coast redwood trees that may be attractive, but use large quantities of water.
• Restaurants can reduce their use by serving ice water upon request only.
• Using new technology such as low flush devices, or better yet, “no flush” devices, which can save thousand of gallons of water and reduce the amount of material sent to our water treatment facilities.

What else can you do?

Your local town or county government wants and needs to hear from you. Request that water saving approaches and technologies for new construction and remodel projects be approved. In some counties in California, “gray water,” that is, water used for showering and washing in the home and routed to special purple pipes, may be reused for landscaping and other purposes. Talk to your local officials about using this and other technologies in your community.

Where can I go for more information?

Chowchilla/Fresno Rivers Watershed
Chowchilla Red Top Resource Conservation District

Who and How to Contact for More Information:

Project Title: Upper San Joaquin River Stewardship Council/Watershed Assessment Program
www.usjrwatershed.org

Project Title: Upper Fresno River Watershed Assessment
www.fresnoriver.org

Project Title: Valuing Watersheds: Mariposa County Process and Perception in CALFED Waters A Case Example: Mariposa County (Mariposa Watershed Assessment)

What is a watershed?

A watershed is the "area of land" where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into a common waterway, such as a stream, lake, estuary, wetland, or ultimately the ocean. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes; and cross county, state, and national boundaries.

Why are we interested in watersheds and why are they important?

No matter where you are or live, you are in a watershed, and our individual actions can directly affect it. If your septic system is faulty it can affect your well and even your neighbor’s well (drinking water). If you inadvertently plant invasive weeds in your garden or don’t clear noxious/invasive weeds from your property, they can spread to adjacent wild lands and can compete with the native plants for water. If fire breaks are not created or dead trees not removed this could create a fire hazard which then in turn uses up our water to try and stop the fire. If a flood should occur, eroding stream & river banks can impact your water quality. These are just a few ways our watershed can be affected. Since, watersheds do not follow town, county, state, and national boundaries we need to work together to guarantee future generations clean and useable drinking water. What happens in one area does have a positive or a negative effect on an entire watershed. What we do individually and as a whole watershed community makes a difference in your watershed everyday.

What does the Watershed Coordinator do?

A Watershed Coordinator offers assistance to citizens interested in the voluntary approach to watershed management and conservation. This is done through engaging stakeholders in the watershed and developing committed support for watershed protection and restoration from landowners, local government, state and federal agencies and the local community organizations. The Watershed Coordinator focuses on collecting area information and providing education regarding water conservation, noxious weed eradication, ground water, and fuel reduction through a Watershed Council. This voluntary Watershed Council will be made up of volunteers, community stakeholders, and other interested citizens. The Watershed Council will develop the priorities of each watershed as well as provide local assistance through workshops, a web site, and educational materials for this voluntary approach to watershed management and conservation.

This watershed project is being funded with a grant from the California Department of Conservation. The above statements are informative only and are not necessarily those of the DOC or its employees.