The Need for Water Conservation

Water conservation is an important factor in a water utility's day-to-day operations. While the incentive to conserve water is not strictly limited to economic or engineering considerations, it can be instrumental in extending inadequate water supply, reducing energy consumption, compensating for service deficiencies, reducing wastewater flows, and minimizing the demands of rapid population growth. Institutional, legal, environmental and political parameters affect the degree of water conservation attainable. Presently, El Toro Water District has adequate water supply available to meet new demands to its system as a result of growth. However, a key responsibility of El Toro Water District has been and continues to be the education of water users within its service area about the importance of water.

Conservation Goals and Objectives

The goals of El Toro Water District's water conservation program are to educate the general public within its service area through the promotion of water awareness, and encouraging where feasible, water conserving measures of El Toro Water District. The District will emphasize conservation in landscape applications and other uses around the exteriors of commercial/industrial buildings and residences. Ensuring that the import water supply continues to be of the highest quality will be a priority for the purpose of enhancing El Toro Water District’s recycled water production for beneficial reuse.

Conservation Guidelines

El Toro Water District’s water use efficiency staff uses a series of conservation measures developed by the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC) as guidelines to safeguard this finite resource. With the signing of the CUWCC’s Memorandum of Understanding, El Toro Water District became one of the first agencies to adopt the Best Management Practices (BMP’s) for urban water conservation. As part of its Conservation Program, El Toro Water District has been promoting replacement of water-wasteful toilets with the new ultra-low-flush toilets. District customers are encouraged to replace their old toilets with the efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilets.

Ways to Save Water

Have you ever been interested in knowing what you can do to save water, but weren’t sure how to go about it? Well, here are some tips to help you out. While all of the tips won’t apply, most will be helpful in saving our most precious resource—WATER!

Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass and if it springs back when you lift your foot, it doesn’t need water. Saves 750 to 1500 gallons per month. Fix or report leaky faucets, running toilets, or sprinkler problems. Saves at least 20 gallons per day for every leak. Don’t run the hose while washing your car. Use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. Saves 150 gallons each time. Install water-saving showerheads and Ultra Low-Flush Toilets. Saves 500 to 800 gallons per month. Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Saves 300 to 800 gallons per month.

• Shorten your shower time. Even a one or two-minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons per month.
  
  
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. Saves 150 gallons or more each time.
  

• Don’t use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Saves 400 to 600 gallons per month.
  
  
• Capture tap water. While you wait for hot water to come through the pipes, catch the flow in a watering can and use later on houseplants or your garden. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
  
  
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This beats the wasteful habit of running tap water to cool it for drinking. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
  

Water Used for Common Activities

Brushing Teeth—3 gallons per day
Shower—40 gallons/10 minutes
Bath—20 gallons
Toilet—28 gallons/day/person
Clothes washer—45 gallons/load
Cooking—5 gallons/day
Dishwasher—15 gallons/load
Landscape—350 gallons/day
Hosing Driveway—150 gallons
Car Washing—150 gallons