1. Stop Leaks!
Is your water and money to going down the drain? Homes can waste more than 10% due to hidden leaks, which costs you and the environment.

Many toilets leak without obvious indications of trouble. Here are some of the signs of a leaking toilet:
* If you have to jiggle the handle to make a toilet stop running.
* Any sounds coming from a toilet that is not being used are signs of leaks.
* If you have to hold the handle down to allow the tank to empty
Learn how to stop toilet leaks.

Another water waster can be leaks in your irrigation system. Fix irrigation system leaks and check for water in the gutters or mud puddles. If you have an older irrigation system, over 50% of the water can be lost to leaks. Learn about irrigation systems.

2. Replace your old Toilet, the largest water user inside your home.
If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, then you probably do not have a water efficient ULFT 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. You can check the date stamp inside the toilet by lifting the lid and looking at the back of the toilet at the manufacturer's imprint of the make, model and date of manufacture. Learn about toilets.

3. Replace your Clothes Washer, the second largest water user in your home.
Energy Star™ rated washers that also have a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5, use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. This saves money on water and energy bills. The City offers a rebate on certain water efficient clothes washer models - please call for details at (650) 616-7068. Learn about clothes washers.

4. Choose the Right Plants
Select plants that are appropriate for your local conditions. Yards with all lawn turf area in a dry climate use significant amounts of water. Consider a Xeriscape™ -- a more natural landscape. Learn about landscaping.

5. Water Only What Your Plants Need
Most gardening water is wasted by watering when you plants do not need it or by not maintaining the irrigation system. If you are watering manually, set a timer to move the hose promptly. Make sure your irrigation controller has a rain shutoff device and that it's appropriately scheduled. Most water is wasted in months prior to or just after the rainy season when intermittent rains occur. Learn about lawn watering guides. You can also consider installing a weather adjusting ET irrigation controller that automatically saves water by not watering when the plants don't need it. Learn about ET irrigation controller timers.


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