Helping the climate by saving ….

Helping the climate by saving energy is a win/win and extra incentive for people to carefully use water. In general, Americans use more than 80 gallons of water per day, but there are many ways to conserve water. In small every day ways, individuals can help by:

• Washing dishes by hand.

• Don’t leave the water running for rinsing. When washing the dishes by hand, use a minimal quantity of detergent as much as possible.

• Don’t defrost frozen foods with running water.

• Don’t run the faucet while you clean vegetables. This saves 50-150 gallons every month.

Most Californians use more water outdoors than indoors. In some areas, 50 percent or more of daily water use is for lawns and outdoor landscaping. So, paying attention to landscapes and sprinklers can save water on a larger scale. People and Mutuals can help in a variety of ways.

• Plant drought-resistant landscape as was just done in Mutual 2’s green belt area. The low maintenance common area features cacti, succulents and California native, drought-tolerant, flowering plants and an 8-foot, 40-yearold Sego Palm. Nearly 5,000 square feet of turf was removed, which qualified the Mutual for a water-saving rebate from the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) for as much as $7,964. In this area alone, LW will save about 83,000-plus gallons of water every year.

•Flooded sidewalks lead to wasteful runoff. SoCal Water$mart- recommends rotating nozzles, which use up to 20 percent less water than a standard sprinkler head by distributing water more slowly and uniformly to the landscape, while preserving plant health. In addition to reducing water use, water directed from these nozzles is less likely to mist, resists misdirection resulting from strong winds, and significantly reduces run-off onto streets and sidewalks with a more directed flow.

SoCal Water$mart resident and commercial rebates are a cost-effective, water-saving option for every landscape. Find more about rebates at socalwatersmart@ com.