County of Los Angeles Waterworks Districts

Water Conservation

Did you know that the average Southern California family uses approximately 500 gallons of water every day? Water is one of our greatest natural resources. It meets our daily needs for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing, and recreation. Water in California, however, is limited. By using water responsibly, Los Angeles County residents can make a huge difference in protecting this resource for future generations. Watering the yard, filling the swimming pool or hot tub; and other outdoor water needs consume about 70% of the water used in a typical single-family home. Landscaping with native or drought tolerant plants that use less water can cut outdoor water use in half. CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR MAKE EVERY DROP COUNT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.

Due to the warm temperatures and to encourage water conservation, the LA County Waterworks Districts would like customers to be aware of the water conservation requirements in the LA County Code.

For a free home water-use evaluation, call (888) 828-8602 or Email. Click here to View Flyer (English) or View Flyer (Español).

For links to information about water-saving rebates, Click Here.

For our new native plant brochures and information about native plants, Click Here.

For links to information about conserving water, Click Here.

For more conservation ideas, check out our Splash newsletters.

10 TIPS TO SAVE MONEY AND WATER

With the driest season on record, water conservation should be high priority this summer for all residents. With so little rain, every drop counts!
Here are 10 easy and effective ways to save water at home and in the garden:

Adjust your sprinklers. Up to 70 percent of residential water use goes to maintaining our yards. Try taking a minute or two off the timer.

Check your system. Do a weekly check for broken or clogged sprinker heads and replace them right away. Make sure you are watering your yard and not the driveway or sidewalk.

Fix those leaks. Just a drip can waste more than 10,000 gallons per month. A leaking flapper on a toilet also increases flows at the water treatment plant.

Plant native species or drought-tolerant plants. Many of the lawns and plants we use are not intended for the unique climate in Southern California. Visit the Lancaster Home Depot or the Antelope Valley Resource Conservation District nursery for native plants suited for the valley.

Use a broom instead of a hose. Sweeping up rather than hosing off leaves or grass clippings not only saves water, it reduces runoff.

Get an adjustable hose nozzle for outdoor use. That way you can adjust the spray to meet your needs. A hose running for five minutes uses the same amount of water as a 20-minute shower.

Eliminate runoff. Runoff could mean your lawn need aeration. When you aerate your lawn, you give the water somewhere to go besides down the storm drain.

Take shorter showers. Cutting two minutes off your shower time can save 600 gallons a month for a family of four. If you change the showerhead to a water efficient model, you could save even more.

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth or shave.

Wash only full loads of laundry. Waiting until you have a full load can save you up to 20 gallons for the same amount of clean clothes.