Water-Saving Tips
Join the Dublin San Ramon Services District in helping to conserve water and preserve the supply for future years. Conservation is a way of life in California.
Indoor Residential Water-Saving Tips
- Run dishwashers and clothes washers only at full capacity
- Upgrade to a high-efficiency clothes washer (rebates available)
- Don't let faucets run when brushing teeth
- Defrost foods in the refrigerator rather than under running water
- Reduce shower times (try using a timer or playing music with a three-song limit)
- Scrape food off plates, pots, and pans or wipe with a paper towel and dispose in the green waste
- Let pans soak in soapy water until ready to be cleaned rather than using running water
- Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until cool
- Catch your warm-up water in the shower and use it on plants
Outdoor Residential Water-Savings Tips
- Replace grass lawns with native, drought-resistant gardens that require less watering
- Add mulch to gardens, around plants and trees, to retain water better
- Group plants in garden zones by the amount of water they need to avoid excess watering
- Install weather-based irrigation controllers
- Don't water when it rains or for 48 hours after
- Water gardens early in the morning or at night to reduce evaporation
- Use a broom to clean driveways, sidewalks, and patios instead of a hose
- Keep pools covered when not in use to reduce evaporation
- See flyer for more tips on saving water outdoors
Find and Repair Leaks
- Check your water meter for activity when all water is off, which could indicate a leak
- Check sinks for dripping faucets, which can waste 3,000 gallons/year at 1 drip/second
- Look under sinks for pooling water and signs of rust, which indicate the need for repair
- Check for and fix toilet leaks
- Examine walls for signs of moisture including water spots, bubbling wallpaper, or bulging paint that could indicate a pipe leak
- Check outdoor faucets or hose bibs for signs of rust plus wet/muddy areas underneath
- Check sprinkler systems for leaks, overspray, or broken sprinkler heads. Repairing them could save up to 500 gallons a month
Water-Saving Tips for Businesses
Businesses can also conserve water and encourage wise water use by employees and customers. View this flyer to learn how businesses can save water--and money.
Water-Saving Ideas for Kids
Children can help save water--and have a lot of fun in the process! Check out this flyer for ways kids can learn to conserve water.