The Top 5 Ways to Save Water at Home
A recent law mandates that Californians reduce their water consumption 20 percent by the year 2020. The typical American family uses about 400 gallons of water every day. According to Rea Gonzalez, a representative at the Los Angeles Department of Public Works, most of that water — about 60 percent in relatively arid California — is used outdoors for watering the yard and filling a swimming pool or hot tub. So, obviously, a great place to start water conservation efforts is outside.
But water consumption indoors shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Gonzalez has outlined the top five most effective and budget-conscious ways for Californians to save water at home, detailed below. Now, if we could all just organize a mass rain dance …
This strategy aims to let water seep deeply into plant roots in the most efficient way possible. Watering at dawn reduces the chance of evaporation in the hot afternoon sun. Watering in short bursts allows water to better soak into the ground. One suggested watering interval involves watering for five minutes, waiting 10 minutes for the water to soak in, and then watering again for another five minutes.
Don’t let minor leaks go unfixed. Amazingly, a leaky toilet wastes up to 200 gallons of water per day.
- High-efficiency sprinkler nozzle: $4
- Washing machine: $100
- Smart irrigation controller: $100
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