Wally’s Water Wisdom – 2023 Water-Wise Checklist

Hello friends! In the spirit of the new year, it is the perfect time to refresh your water-saving knowledge. As you know by now, California continues to be in a drought, and being water-wise is more crucial than ever. Come with me and dive into a typical day-to-day routine to see where you can adjust your water-use habits. Do you have your notepad ready? You are going to want to write these tips down.

Water-Wise Daily Checklist

Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth. Check!

How can you save water when brushing your teeth? It is easier than you think. All you must do is turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Just by turning off the water, you can save as much as 4 to 8 gallons of water. Imagine that – that is 4 to 8 gallons wasted every morning and evening.

Load your dirty dishes into the dishwasher. Check!

If you have a dishwasher, load your used dishes instead of hand washing. Washing a full load of dishes saves up to 15 gallons of water per load. Make sure to only run full loads!

Adjust the sprinklers. Check!

Between now and March, California receives most of its annual rainfall, which makes this an important season to save water on your landscaping. Smart controller + rainfall = a happy lawn. “But Wally, what is a smart controller?” A smart controller automatically adjusts to the weather and selects the best time of day to water, the length of the watering schedule, and the amount of water that is being distributed. Don’t have a smart controller? Make it a priority to always turn off your sprinkler system during and after rainy days. A good practice is leaving the sprinklers off during and for 48 hours after rainfall. Every drop counts. My friends at IEUA offer rebates for residents who install smart controllers. You can learn more about it through their website. 

Evening shower. Check!

Is taking a bath how you typically like ending your night after school, practice, or hanging with your friends? Consider taking a shower instead of soaking in a tub. According to the EPA, a shower uses up to 60 gallons less than a typical bath. That is approximately 400 Starbucks venti cups. I know, I know, that is a latte (a lot) of water.

It looks like you are all caught up now. These small but mighty ways will make a significant difference in 2023. Want to take it a step further? Keep the water-saving going by sharing this blog with your friends and family. Happy New Year and see you all next month with more drops of wisdom!

Your friend,

Wally