Water Conservation: Help the Environment, Increase Water Supply and Save Money
August 2009

By: Saundra F. Jacobs
Board President

Water reliability is being hotly debated as the State of California is attempting to balance environmental, agricultural and urban demands of one of our most precious resources. Increasing the reliability and meeting the federal environmental mitigation requirements have resulted in substantially increasing costs for delivery of water throughout the State.

The need for balance of the supplies, along with the ongoing drought conditions, has raised awareness within the community that efficient water use not only reduces demand for water but helps the environment and can save you money.

The Santa Margarita Water District recently updated its Comprehensive Water Conservation Program to meet the ongoing challenges. The program encourages long-term conservation by establishing water management standards and provides specific steps to be implemented based on available water supplies.

We are asking our customers to use 10% less water. The average single family customer, based on four people, uses 400 gallons per day inside and outside (more in the summer, less in the winter). We are asking you to save 40 gallons per day on average by implementing progressive water practices into your everyday routine:

• Water your lawn, landscape or other vegetated area before 8:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. three times per week. Watering three days instead of four can meet the 10% reduction.
• Make sure your irrigation or sprinklers operate so water does not runoff onto the sidewalk, driveway or street.
• Use a broom and a bucket instead of washing down sidewalks, walkways, driveways, or patios with a running house (a hose running can use up to 13 gallons per minute).
• Fix any leaks in your house or to sprinklers (a dripping faucet can use 10 gallons per day).
• Go to a commercial car wash or use a bucket or a hose equipped with a self-closing water shut-off nozzle - don’t let the water run down the drain.

Reducing your water consumption can save you money. Saving only 40 gallons per day can save you approximately $40 per year. Careful water management is both environmentally and economically rewarding – water users can save money by adopting efficient water use habits.

SMWD water users will continue to see and hear more about our Comprehensive Water Conservation Program as the District increases efforts to further educate customers about water conservation through an updated public awareness campaign – Operation Conservation. For more information about water saving tips, also visit www.smwd.com.

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