The San Diego County Water Authority recently launched a campaign to encourage San Diego County residents to Live WaterSmart. The agency provides many free resources to support water-use efficiency as a way of life and encourage sustainable changes to homes and landscapes. This approach helps ensures our region will have sufficient water supplies for years to come.
Resources provided by the Water Authority and its partners include:
- Free WaterSmart Checkup with a certified irrigation specialist
- Free classes on topics such as removing your turf, WaterSmart landscaping and more
- Rebates and other incentives for water-saving tactics like rain barrels, turf removal and nozzle replacement
- Free on-demand videos to learn how to make your landscape more water-efficient
- Free online calculator to determine your home’s water use
Other great WaterSmart tips:
- Check for leaks in your system by monitoring your water bill for abnormal changes in usage. Use your water meter to check specific areas for leaks.
- Mulch, mulch, mulch! Add mulch around trees and plants to retain moisture in the ground.
- Regularly check your irrigation system for runoff, leaks and broken sprinkler heads. Upgrade to a water-efficient system to be as WaterSmart as possible!
- Wash full loads of laundry and dishes to save on water and energy.
- Incorporate native and low-water plants into your garden. In addition to saving water, these plants typically are easier to care for. That’s good news for those of us who don’t have a green thumb!
- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, shaving and lathering.
- Scrape food waste into a composting container instead of rinsing it down the drain.
- Replace older appliances and fixtures with efficient WaterSense® models; take advantage of rebates to save money.
- Irrigate in the evening or early morning; turn off irrigation systems when it rains and for at least 48 hours afterward