Conserving water in our homes and businesses helps protect the Tuolumne River and our environment – and it also saves money!
Most of us recycle in order to reduce waste, and many of us have taken steps, like switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, to reduce energy use, but, unfortunately, not enough of us are doing our part to reduce water waste. The good news is saving water is easy!
Here are the Top 5 Actions you can take today to save water and money:
(source: California Urban Water Conservation Council)
1. Stop Those Leaks!
Check your indoor water using appliances and 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. Studies have shown homes can waste more than 10% due leaking, which costs both you and the environment.
Another large water waster can be leaks in your irrigation system. Fix irrigation system leaks quickly and check for water in the gutters or mud puddles. Inspect your sprinklers and drip sprayers regularly for leaks during the daytime since the optimal time to water is in the nighttime hours when you cannot observe leaks. If you have an older irrigation system, over 50% and even more than 75% of the water can be lost to leaks.
2. Replace your old Toilet, the largest water user inside your home.
If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, then it is very likely that you do not have a water efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. You can check the date stamp inside the toilet by lifting the lid and looking at the back of the toilet at the manufacturer's imprint of the make, model and date of manufacture. Contact your water agency (see below) to inquire about rebate programs!
3. Replace your Clothes Washer, the second largest water user in your 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. This saves you money on both your water and energy bills. Contact your water agency (see below) to inquire about rebate programs!
4. Plant the Right Plants with Proper Landscape Design & Irrigation
Whether you are putting in a new landscape or slowly changing the current landscaping at your home, select plants that are appropriate for your local climate conditions. Having yard with 100% lawn turf area in a dry climate uses significant amounts of water. Consider planting drought-tolerant species and a more natural landscape or wildscape.
 The Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency has developed a new Water Wise Gardening in the Bay Area CD-ROM. The program displays outstanding water efficient garden photographs hot-linked to the plants that compose them. The program offers a searchable plant database, watering recommendations, a searchable gardening guide, and allows the user to prepare reports and shopping lists for their use. Click here for more information.
5. Water Only What Your Plants Need
Most water is wasted in your garden by watering when your plants do not need the water or by not maintaining the irrigation system. Be attentive if you are manual watering by setting your oven timer or some other reminder to move the water promptly. Make sure your irrigation controller has a rain shutoff device and that it's appropriately scheduled. Most water is wasted in months prior to or just after the rainy season when intermittent rains occur. You can also consider installing a weather adjusting ET irrigation controller that automatically saves water by not watering when the plants don't need the water. Check with your water agency to inquire if ET controllers work in your area.
Contact Your Water Agency
Most water agencies offer rebates for water-efficient plumbing fixtures such as toilets and washing machines. Also, your water agency likely offers tips and helpful information that can help save water and reduce your water bill. Click on your county below to find the water agencies in your area:
Bay Area Water Agencies:
SAN FRANCISCO
SAN MATEO COUNTY
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
ALAMEDA COUNTY
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
MARIN COUNTY
SOLANO COUNTY
NAPA COUNTY
SONOMA COUNTY
SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
1155 Market Street, 1st Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 554-3155
Conservation Department Phone: (415) 551-4730
SAN MATEO COUNTY
Burlingame Water Services
501 Primrose Road
Burlingame, CA 94010
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 558-7200
Coastside County Water District
766 Main Street
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 726-4405
Daly City Public Works Department
333 90th Street
Daly City, CA 94015
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 991-8208
East Palo Alto Company Waterworks
1960 Tate Street
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 853-3105
Estero Municipal Irrigation District
610 Foster City Boulevard
Foster City, CA 94404
Phone: (650) 286-8140
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 286-3200
Menlo Park Municipal Water District
701 Laurel Street
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: (650) 330-6763
Mid Peninsula Water District
3 Dairy Lane
P.O. Box 129
Belmont, CA 94002
Millbrae Water Department
621 Magnolia Street
Millbrae, CA 94030
Phone: (650) 259-2348
North Coast County Water District
2400 Francisco Boulevard
P.O. Box 1039
Pacifica, CA 94044
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 355-3462
Redwood City Water Department
1400 Broadway
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 780-7436
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 780-7464
San Bruno Water Department
567 El Camino Real
San Bruno, CA 94066
Phone: (650) 616-7068
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 616-7065
Skyline County Water District
14944 Skyline Boulevard
Woodside, CA 94062
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 851-0529
Brisbane Public Works Department
City Hall, 50 Park Place
Brisbane, CA 94005
Phone: (415) 508-2130
Conservation Department Phone: (415) 508-2130
Cal Water - Bear Gulch
3351 El Camino Real, Suite 190
Atherton, CA 94027
Phone: (650) 367-6800
Email: infoBG@calwater.com
Cal Water - Mid Peninsula
341 North Delaware Street
San Mateo, CA 94401
Phone: (650) 558-7800
Email: infoBAY@calwater.com
Cal Water - South San Francisco
341 North Delaware Street
San Mateo, CA 94401
Phone: (650) 558-7800
Email: infoBAY@calwater.com
Hillsborough Water Department
1600 Floribunda Avenue
Hillsborough, CA 94010
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 375-7400
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
Santa Clara Valley Water District
5750 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118
Phone: (408) 265-2607 ext. 2554
Cal Water - Los Altos
949 "B" Street
Los Altos, CA 94024
Phone: (650) 917-0152
City of Milpitas
455 East CalAvenueras Boulevard
Milpitas, CA 95035
Phone: (408) 586-2605
Conservation Department Phone: (408) 586-3000
City of Mountain View
500 Castro Street
Post Office Box 7540
Mountain View, CA 94039
Phone: (650) 903-6269
City Of Palo Alto Utilities
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
City Of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Phone: (408) 615-2014
Conservation Department Phone: (408) 615-2200
City Of Sunnyvale
456 West Olive Avenuenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94088
Phone: (408) 730-7510
Conservation Department Phone: (408) 730-7500
Gilroy Water Department
7351 Rosanna Street
Gilroy, CA 95020
Phone: (408) 846-0420
Conservation Department Phone: (408) 265-2607, ext. 2554
Great Oaks Water Company
15 Great Oaks Boulevard., Ste 100
San Jose, CA 95119
Phone: (408) 227-9540
Conservation Department Phone: (408) 227-9540
Morgan Hill Water Department
17555 Peak Avenue.
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Phone: (408) 776-7337
Purissima Hills Water District
26375 Fremont Rd.
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 948-1217
San Jose Municipal Water System
3025 Tuers Road
San Jose, CA 95121
Phone: (408) 945-3000
Conservation Department Phone: (408) 975-2579
San Jose Water Company
374 West Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA 95196
Phone: (408) 279-7900
Stanford University
315 Bonair Sicling
Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: (650) 723-4570
Conservation Department Phone: (650) 723-2281
ALAMEDA COUNTY
East Bay Municipal Utility District
P.O. Box 24055 MS 48
Oakland, CA 94623
Phone: (866) 403-2683
Alameda County Water District
43885 S. Grimmer Boulevard
Fremont, CA 94538
Phone: (510) 668-4207
Conservation Department Phone: (510) 668-4200
Cal Water - Livermore
195 South "N" Street
Livermore, CA 94550-4350
Phone: (925) 447-4900
www.calwater.com
Conservation Website: http://www.calwater.com/WaterConservation.html
Dublin San Ramon S. District
7051 Dublin Boulevard
Dublin, CA 94568
Phone: 925-828-0515
Conservation Department Phone: 925-875-2336
www.dsrsd.com
Conservation Website: http://www.dsrsd.com/your_water_services/rebates.html
Livermore Water Department
101 W. Jack London Boulevard
Livermore, CA 94551
Phone: 925-960-4320
Conservation Department Phone: 925-960-8121
www.ci.livermore.ca.us/wrd/
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.livermore.ca.us/wrd/conservation.html
Pleasanton Water Department
200 Old Bernal Avenue
Pleasanton, CA 94566
Phone: 925-931-5425
Conservation Department Phone: 925-931-5425
www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/government/departments/works/
Hayward Water Department
777 B Street
Hayward, CA 94541
Phone: 510-583-4723
ci.hayward.ca.us
Conservation Website: http://ci.hayward.ca.us/webware/Default.aspx?Message=372&t=-1
Zone 7 Water Agency
100 North Canyon Parkway
Livermore, CA 94551-9486
Phone: 925-454-5065
www.zone7water.com
Conservation Website: http://www.zone7water.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=235
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Contra Costa Water District
1331 Concord Avenue
P.O. Box H2O
Concord, CA 94524
Conservation Department Phone: (925) 688-8000
www.ccwater.com
Conservation Website: http://www.ccwater.com/conserve/
East Bay Municipal Utility District
P.O. Box 24055 MS 48
Oakland, CA 94623
Phone: 1-866-403-2683
www.ebmud.com
Conservation Website: http://www.ebmud.com/conserving_&_recycling/
Zone 7 Water Agency
100 North Canyon Parkway
Livermore, CA 94551-9486
Phone: 925-454-5065
www.zone7water.com
Conservation Website: http://www.zone7water.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=235
Antioch Water Department
Third & "H" Streets
Antioch, CA 94509
www.ci.antioch.ca.us
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CityGov/PublicWorks/Water/
Byron Bethany Irrigation District
3944 Main Street
Byron, CA 94514
Phone: 925-634-3534
www.bbid.org
City Of Brentwood
2201 Elkins Way
Brentwood, CA 94513
Conservation Department Phone: (925) 516-6000 www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/department/pw/operations/water/index.cfm
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.brentwood.ca.us/department/pw/operations/water/general.cfm#water
Diablo Water District
2107 Main Street
Oakley, CA 94561
Phone: 925-625-3798
http://www.ci.oakley.ca.us/subpage.cfm?page=432824
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.oakley.ca.us/subpage.cfm?page=914876
East Contra Costa Irrigation District
626 First Street
Brentwood, CA 94513
Phone: 925-634-5951
Martinez Water Department
525 Henrietta Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: 925-372-3515
http://www.cityofmartinez.org/depts/community/water.asp
Pittsburg Water Department
65 Civic Avenue
Pittsburg, CA 94565
Phone: 925-252-4940
ci.pittsburg.ca.us/pittsburg/
MARIN COUNTY
Bolinas Community Public Utility District
270 Elm Road
Bolinas, CA 94924
Phone: 415-868-1224
www.bcpud.org
Inverness Public Utility District
P.O. Box 469
50 Inverness Way
Inverness, CA 94937
Marin Municipal Water District
220 Nellen Avenue
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Phone: (415) 945-1520
Conservation Department Phone: (415) 945-1455
www.marinwater.org
Conservation Website: http://www.marinwater.org/controller?action=menuclick&id=257
North Marin Water District
999 Rush Creek Place
Novato, CA 94945
www.nmwd.com
Stinson Beach County Water District
3785 Shoreline Highway
Stinson Beach, CA 94970
Phone: (415) 868-1333
stinson-beach-cwd.dst.ca.us
Conservation Website: http://stinson-beach-cwd.dst.ca.us/conservation.html
SOLANO COUNTY
American Canyon Water Department
205 Wetlands Edge Road
American Canyon, CA 94503
Phone: 707-647-4550
http://www.ci.american-canyon.ca.us/index.html
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.american-canyon.ca.us/Departments/Public_Works/section_index.htm
Benicia Water Department
250 East L Street
Benicia, CA 94510
Phone: 707-746-4200
http://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/publicworks.php
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/publicworks.php
Cal Water- Dixon
201 South First Street
Dixon, CA 95620
Phone: (707) 678-5928
www.calwater.com
Conservation Website: http://www.calwater.com/Conservation.html
Fairfield Water Department
1000 Webster Street
Fairfield, CA 94533
Phone: 707-428-7346
Conservation Department Phone: 707-428-7487
http://www.ci.fairfield.ca.us/Water_and_Sewer_Services.htm
Conservation Website: http://www.scwa2.com/water.html
Solano County Water Agency
404 Aviation Boulevard
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: 707-526-5370
Conservation Department Phone: 707-547-1909
www.scwa.ca.gov
Conservation Website: http://www.scwa.ca.gov/water_conservation/
Solano Irrigation District
508 Elmira Road
Vacaville, CA 95687
Phone: 707-448-6847
www.sidwater.org
Vacaville Water Department
650 Merchant Street
Vacaville, CA 95688
Phone: (707) 449-5170
www.ci.vacaville.ca.us
Conservation Website: http://www.cityofvacaville.com/departments/public_works/water.php
Vallejo Water Department
555 Santa Clara Street
Vallejo, CA 94590
Phone: 707-648-4479
http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/GovSite/default.asp?serviceID1=1
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/GovSite/default.asp?serviceID1=612&Frame=L1
NAPA COUNTY
Calistoga Water Department
1232 Washington St
Calistoga, CA 94515
Napa Water Department
1340 Clay Street
Napa, CA 94559
Conservation Department Phone: (707) 257-9497
www.cityofnapa.org
Conservation Website: http://www.cityofnapa.org/Menu/MnuWaterDivision.htm
St. Helena Water Department
1480 Main Street
St.Helena, CA 94574
Phone: (707) 968-2745
http://city.ci.st-helena.ca.us/section.cfm?id=80
Yountville Water Department
6550 Yount Street
Yountville, CA 94599
Phone: 707-944-2655
Conservation Department Phone: 707-944-8851
www.townofyountville.com/Sewer_Service.html
Congress Valley Water District
P.O. Box 3023
Napa, CA 94558
Phone: 707-256-0344
www.congressvalleywaterdistrict.com/Contact_Us.html
SONOMA COUNTY
Bodega Bay Public Utility District
265 Doran Park Road
Bodega Bay, CA 94923
Phone: 707-875-3332
Cloverdale Water Department
124 North Cloverdale Boulevard
Cloverdale, CA 95425
Phone: 707-894-1700
www.cloverdale.net
Cotati Water Department
201 West Sierra Avenuenue
Cotati, CA 94931
Phone: 707-792-4600 ext. 631
www.ci.cotati.ca.us
Forestville County Water District
6530 Mirabel Road
Forestville, CA 95436
Phone: 707-887-1551
Healdsburg Water Department
401 Grove Street
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Phone: 707-431-3346
Conservation Department Phone: 707-431-3122
www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/cms/
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_505943d7-7f000010-d0f59e00-de87a6dc
Occidental Community Services
7131 Mirabel Road
Forrestville, CA 95436
Phone: 707-887-7735
Conservation Department Phone: 800-244-5518
http://www.rruwater.com/rru/systems/occidental.html
Penngrove/ Kenwood Water Company
4984 Sonoma Hwy
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
Phone: 707-539-6397
Conservation Department Phone: 707-539-6397
Petaluma Water Department
11 English Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone: 707-778-4350
Conservation Department Phone: 707-778-4507
www.cityofpetaluma.net
Conservation Website: http://cityofpetaluma.net/wrcd/waterconservation.html
Rohnert Park Water Department
6800 Hunter Drive, Suite B
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Phone: 707-585-6750
Conservation Department Phone:
www.ci.rohnert-park.ca.us
Russian River Utility
7131 Mirabel Road
Forestville, CA 95436
Phone: 707-887-7735
http://www.rruwater.com/rru/about.html
Santa Rosa Water Department
69 Stony Circle
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Phone: (707) 543-4200
http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/default.aspx?PageId=129
Conservation Website: http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/default.aspx?PageId=2308
Sebastopol Water Department
7120 Bodega Avenuenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Phone: 707-823-7863
http://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/index.shtml
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/waterconservation.shtml
Sereno Del Mar Water Company
7131 Mirabel Road
Forrestville, CA 95436
Phone: 707-887-7735
Conservation Department Phone: 800-244-5518
http://www.rruwater.com/rru/systems/sereno.html
Valley Of The Moon Water District
19039 Bay Street
El Verano, CA 95433
Phone: 707-996-1037
Conservation Department Phone: 707 547-1968
www.vomwd.com
Conservation Website: http://www.vomwd.com/conservation.html
Windsor Water Department
9291 Old Redwood Highway, Bldg 300A
Windsor, CA 95492
Phone: 707-838-1004
Conservation Department Phone: 707-838-5357
http://www.ci.windsor.ca.us/
Conservation Website: http://www.ci.windsor.ca.us/3036.html
Sonoma County Water District
404 Aviation Boulevard
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: 707-526-5370
Conservation Department Phone:
http://www.scwa.ca.gov/
Conservation Website: http://www.sonomacountywater.org/water_conservation/
Sonoma Water Department
No. 1 The Plaza
Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: 707-938-3681
Conservation Department Phone:
http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=338
Conservation Website: http://www.sonomacity.org/default.aspx?PageId=399
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