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Tips for conserving water without drying out
 BY CHAD CLARK
Living in Los Angeles, it is often easy to forget that this
city is, in fact, built on a desert. Many Angelenos have
green lawns and swimming pools, and varieties of particularly
thirsty, non-L.A. native vegetation can be found lining sidewalks
and adding color to the landscape.
The only reason this is true, however, is because the city
of Los Angeles imports large amounts of water to compensate
for its low annual rainfall. If L.A. hadn’t secured
various water rights from the Colorado River and other local
sources, the city would not be able to support its population.
It is still essential for Angelenos to conserve water. One
obvious area to address in this car-crazy city, is finding
more water-efficient ways to wash one’s four-wheeled
status symbol. An average commercial car wash uses 20-45
gallons of water per car and washing your car at home can
use as much as 140 gallons. One way to help with this problem
is by simply not washing your car as much, but if a sparkling
ride tickles your fancy, Green Earth Waterless Carwash (www.greenearthcarwash.com)
has an alternative solution: A spray-on car cleaning solution
that is environmentally friendly, nontoxic, effective, and
made right here in L.A.
The best solution for landscaping your yard is xeriscaping,
a type of landscaping specifically designed for arid climates.
Xeriscaping conserves water and resources by using native,
drought-resistant plants. If you are just intent on having
a grassy lawn, there are very realistic artificial turf products
on the market today, which look and feel like real grass
and require no water whatsoever. At the very least, invest
in an efficient irrigation system, which would save thousands
of gallons of water each year. Watering during the cooler
hours of the day (very early in the morning or early evening)
helps prevent the growth of fungus and can save 300 gallons
of water a month. Applying a layer of mulch around trees
and plants which require watering helps prevent evaporation
and reduces the amount of water the plants will need. If
you own a pool, try to use a swimming pool cover as much
as possible to cut down on evaporation. This can save up
to 1,000 gallons a month.
Try taking shorter showers and don’t run water unnecessarily
while brushing teeth, shaving, cleaning vegetables, or doing
dishes. Making simple plumbing adjustments such as fixing
leaking faucets can save as much as 20 gallons of water a
day. Try putting dye tablets or food coloring into your toilet
tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing you have
a leak, which might be using up to 400 gallons a month. Replacing
toilets with low-flow water efficient models is a great way
to save water. If you are not able to replace your fixtures,
simply put a couple bricks or similar items in your toilet
tank to displace the water. This can save 5-10 gallons a
day. Also, installing low-flow showerheads can save up to
800 gallons a month.
Instead of wasting water while waiting for the hot water
to reach the faucet, capture it in a watering can or container
for use later. Additionally, be careful with hazardous materials.
It only takes one quart of motor oil to contaminate 250,000
gallons of water. Cleaners, prescription drugs, and the like
should not be flushed down the toilet.
Water is an essential component of most manufacturing processes.
Cutting down on purchases of manufactured items conserves
water. The marketplace doesn’t want us to think about
what resources go into the things we buy or use. For example,
the production of one car in the U.S. can consume more than
50 times its weight in water. It is essential to make voluntary
changes in our consumption patterns: Play a role in our own
sustainability and invest in the longevity of our planet.
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For more information:
The California Urban Water Conservation Council (www.cuwcc.org)
Metropolitan Water District Southern California Conservation
Page (www.bewaterwise.com)
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Conservation
Page (www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp001257.jsp)
Long Beach Water Conservation Video (www.planetizen.com/node/28948)
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