Conserve Water

Conserving and protecting the water in our watershed helps to protect the Russian River and our environment. Did you know it also saves money?! All of us working together can make a big impact on our future water resources. Individual actions add up to create major changes.

Here are some easy water saving tips you can implement today.

Stop Leaks

Check your indoor water using appliances an devices for leaks. Many silent leaks allow water and your money to go down the drain! To help detect unseen leaks learn how to read your meter.
Fix irrigation leaks quickly and check for water in the gutters or mud puddles. Inspect your sprinklers and drip sprayers regularly for leaks.

Replace Old Toilets

Toilets are the largest water users inside your home. If your house was built before 1992 and your toilet has never been replaced, then it is likely that you do not have a water efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. Contact your water agency to inquire about rebate programs!

Upgrade Your Old Clothes Washer

This is the second largest water user in the home. Energy star rated washers that also have a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5, use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. Which saves you money on both your water and energy bill!

Use Less Electricity

Each kilowatt hour of electricity requires 25 gallons of water to generate.

Landscape with Native Plants

Select plants that are appropriate for your local climate and conditions. Lawns use significant amounts of water; consider transforming it into a vegetable garden. Consider planting drought tolerant species or wildscapaing. The Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency has developed a new Water Wise Gardening in the Bay Area CD-ROM.

Install Rain Barrels & Create Rain Gardens

You can water gardens, plants and lawns from the water collected in rain barrels. Creating rain gardens allows you to absorb stormwater runoff from impervious areas like roofs and parking lots. For more information go to raingardens.com