California's Water: Facts on "Using Water Wisely "

Overview

• California is blessed with an enviable climate, but our water resources are limited. Even in normal rainfall years, Californians must make the most of every drop of water.
  
• As our population continues to grow, water use efficiency will be more critical than ever.
  
• Using water more efficiently reduces water and wastewater bills, and also lowers energy bills. It can also reduce demand on sensitive rivers and estuaries such as the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and help communities avoid the tremendous expense of developing new water supplies.
  
• California water agencies are leaders in water use efficiency. Over the past decade, local agencies statewide have invested roughly $400 million in programs to reduce water use.
  
• Today, water efficiency efforts in California rival those found anywhere in the world. Thanks to more efficient plumbing fixtures and active conservation programs, California is saving more than 700,000 acre-feet of water per year, enough to meet the household needs of over 2 million people for a year.
  
• Thanks to water use efficiency efforts, urban Southern California today uses about the same water it used in the 1980s – even though it’s population has grown significantly.
  
• Similarly, major water agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area report that total water demand today is about the same as it was in the 1980s, due to water-saving programs and incentives.
  
• From toilet rebates to water audits to “SMART” landscape irrigation technology, California water agencies are helping their customers use less water and less energy, without comprising their lifestyle.
  

Facts and Statistics

• On average, 42% of household water use occurs indoors. The remaining 58% occurs outdoors. In hotter areas such as the Central Valley, outside water use can account for up to 70% of household use.
  
• Toilets and clothes washers use the most water on a daily basis. Older toilets can be water-wasting culprits. A leaking toilet can waste up to 50 gallons of water a day.
  
• High efficiency clothes washers can make a big difference. Whereas old-style washing machines use about 45 gallons of water per load, new high efficiency models use only 15 gallons per load.
  
• We all love beautiful gardens and landscapes. But traditional lawns and gardens can require lots of water to maintain. For example, the typical lawn requires about 57 inches of water a year. While some of that comes from rain, the rest has to be provided by irrigation.
  
• A small lawn of 1,000 square-feet uses about 35,000 gallons of water per year. If the lawn is over-irrigated, as is common in many areas, it can use up to 75,000 gallons a year.
  
• Local water agencies can provide expert advice and tips on how to have a lovely yard and garden that uses much less water.
  
• “SMART” irrigation controllers are a good example of how technology is helping to reduce water use. These controllers monitor weather conditions and limit watering to when it’s really needed.
  
• Businesses also have a number of options for reducing water use. Alternatives range from investing in high-efficiency plumbing and irrigation systems to making low- or no-cost changes in operations to cut down on water and energy use.
  
• Many local water agencies offer free water-wise visits that can provide water efficiency advice tailor-made for individual businesses.