Water Conservation in San Diego

It’s basic math—the less water we use, the less water we need to supply.

In San Diego, a typical household uses about 10,472 gallons of water a month. What can you do to use less this month?

Whatever your conservation goal is - 15 percent, 25 percent or more - the more of these steps you take the more water you’ll save. The more water you save, the more money you’ll save on your water and sewer bills.

If you see someone wasting water, please report them to us using this secure, anonymous online form.

20 Easy Ways to Conserve Water:
1.    Rinse vegetables and fruits in a sink or a pan filled with water instead of under running water to save up to 30 gallons a week.
2.    While waiting for hot water to come through the pipes, catch the cool water in a bucket or a watering can. Use this water later to water plants or run your garbage disposal.
3.    Hand wash dishes once a day using a minimal amount of detergent to cut rinsing. Use a sprayer or short blasts of water to rinse.
4.    Save up to 250 gallons of water a week when watering your lawn! Water your lawn and landscaping before dawn or after the sun sets when there’s less evaporation. Adjust your sprinklers so they don’t spray on sidewalks, driveways or streets.
5.    Check your toilets for leaks.
6.    By replacing your regular showerheads with low-flow showerhead you can save up to 230 gallons a week.
7.    Turn the water off while brushing your teeth or shaving.
8.    Save up to 75 gallons a week per person by keeping your showers down to five minutes or less and using a low-flow showerhead.
9.    While in the shower, turn the water off while lathering-up, turn the water back on to quickly rinse.
10.    Replace your older model toilets with new ultra-low-flush models to save up to 350 gallons a week.
11.    Channel your inner plumber. You can save more than 150 gallons for each leak that you fix inside and outside of your home. Think about faucets, fixtures and pipes.
12.    Flush the toilet only when necessary. Never use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket.
13.    Car washing techniques. When taking your vehicle to a car wash, take it to a place that recycles its wash water. If washing your car at home, use a bucket of water and sponge. Rinse quickly at the end, never allow the hose to run continuously.
14.    When cleaning up breakfast, lunch or dinner, scrape food scraps off dishes in the garbage can or rinse them off with very short blasts of water.
15.    Plan ahead when cooking. Instead of using hot, running water to defrost frozen foods, place frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or use the microwave oven.
16.    When doing the laundry, never wash less than a full load.
17.    Always use a broom when cleaning your patio or balcony; never use a hose.
18.    Don’t allow children to play with the hose.
19.    Alternate days you run your garbage disposal.
20.    If you have a pool, use a cover to cut down evaporation. This will also keep your pool cleaner and reduce the need to add chemicals.
21.    Only start your dishwasher when you have a full load. This simple method can save up to 30 gallons a week.
22.    Reduce each irrigation cycle by 1-3 minutes, or eliminate one irrigation cycle per week.  Use the landscape calculator and watering index.