Ways To Save Water and Cut Costs

Free Residential Water Use Audit
Residential Rebates and Programs
Business Rebates and Programs


Ways to Save Water Indoors


  2. Run the dishwasher only when full.
  3. Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. Now, Energy Star dishwashers save even more water and energy – saves 3-8 gallons/load.
  4. Install aerators on the kitchen faucet to reduce flows to less than 1 gallon/minute.
  8. Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time.



  17. Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.


  1. If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a low-flow shower head – save up to 2.5 gallons/shower.
  4. Toilet leaks can be silent! Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least once a year.
  7. Fill the bathtub halfway or less – save 12 gallons/bath.
  8. Install a high-efficiency toilet – Save 19 gallons/person/day.
  9. If your toilet flapper doesn’t close properly after flushing, replace it.
  10. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth or shave and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That’s up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.        
  14. When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
  16. Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets – save 1.2 gallons/person/day.
  17. Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing them and save water every time. Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket.
  19. While you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants.


  2. Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy, and helps your clothes retain their color.
  3. When shopping for a new washing machine, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some can save up to 20 gallons of water per load.


  1. Teach children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.        
  2. Use the Home Water Audit Calculator to see where you can save water.
  3. When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it most.
  4. Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.

  6. Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.        

  7. At home or while staying in a hotel, reuse your towels.

Ways to Save Water Outdoors


    1. Reduce outdoor irrigation to 2 days or less per week (on assigned days) for only 10 minutes per sprinkler station. Try to reduce each irrigation cycle by 1-3 minutes or eliminate one irrigation cycle per week.
    3. Use a hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle to water landscaped areas not irrigated by a landscape irrigation system.
    4. Set a kitchen timer when using the hose as a reminder to turn it off. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons per minute.
    5. Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street – save 12-15 gallons/each time you water.
    6. Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning (before 10:00 am) or later evening hours (after 6:00 pm) when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter. This reduces evaporation and interface from wind- save 25 gallons/each time you water.
    8. Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case of malfunctions or rain.
    9. Remember not to water during or 48 hours following a measurable storm.

      Signs of overwatering: Leaves turn lighter shades of green or yellow, young shoots wilt, and sometimes algae or fungi grow.


    1. Water dry spot by hand instead of running the whole irrigation system longer. 
    3. Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the roots, where it’s needed – save 15 gallons/each time you water.
    5. Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops and mist often evaporate before hitting the ground.
    6. Use a rain barrel to harvest rainwater from gutters for watering gardens and landscapes.
    9. Remember to reset irrigation controllers and replace batteries in the spring and fall.
    10. Pruning properly can help your plants use water more efficiently.


    Lawn Care:

    1. Hire a qualified pro to install your irrigation system and keep it working properly and efficiently.
    2. Hire a professional landscaper who has received landscape training specific to California chaparral environments.
    4. Leave lawn clippings on your grass, this cools the ground and holds in moisture.
    5. If installing a lawn, select a lawn mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
    12. Catch water in an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. 3/4 to 1 inch of water is enough to apply each time you irrigate.


    California-Friendly Landscaping:

    1. Use porous material for walkways and patios to prevent wasteful runoff and keep water in your yard.
    2. Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others.
    3. Choose the right California-friendly plants and watch them thrive in our chaparral environment – save 30-60 gallons/each time you water/1,000 sq. ft.
    4. Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region. (Rebates may be available)
    5. Plant in the spring and fall, when the watering requirements are lower.
    6. Consider attending a California-Friendly landscape class hosted by a San Diego County Water Agency.
    10. Use a layer of organic mulch on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water, reduce evaporation, and keep soil cool – save 20-30 gallons/each time you water/1,000 sq. ft..
    11. Visit your local water efficient demonstration garden to view plants that thrive in our hot desert environment.
    12. Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low-water-use plant and save up to 550 gallons each year.
    13. Call your local conservation office for more information about landscaping with water-thrifty trees, plants, and ground covers.
    14. Collect water from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts. Direct the runoff to plants and trees.



    1. Use a pool cover to help keep your pool clean, reduce chemical use and prevent water loss through evaporation.
    2. Make sure your swimming pools and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
    3. If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks.
    4. When back-washing your pool, consider using the water on salt-tolerant plants in the landscape. 
    5. Minimize or eliminate the use of waterfalls and sprays in your pool. Aeration increases evaporation.
    6. Don’t overfill the pool. Lower water levels will reduce water loss due to splashing.
    7. Instead of building a private pool, join a community pool.
    8. Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those that spray water into the air.
    9. Use a grease pencil to conduct a bucket test to check for pool leaks. An unnatural water level drop may indicate a leak.

    General Outdoor:

    1. For more immediate hot water and energy savings, insulate hot water pipes.
    2. Use recirculating water when operating an ornamental fountains or decorative water features.
    3. Use a commercial car wash that recycles or recirculates water. Or, wash your car on the lawn, and you’ll water your grass at the same time.
    4. Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You’ll save up to 100 gallons every time.
    5. Wash your pets outdoors, in an area of your lawn that needs water.
    6. When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.
    8. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways, and save water every time.
    9. Evaporative coolers require a seasonal maintenance check. For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler annually.
    10. If you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to plants in your landscape.
    11. Set water softeners for a minimum number of refills to save both water and chemicals, plus energy, too.
    12. If you have an evaporative cooler, install a recirculating pump to keep water from bleeding off with one pass.
    13. Report broken pipes, leaky hydrants and errant sprinklers to property owners or your local water provider.
    14. Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. Were a pipe to burst, this could save gallons of water and prevent damage.
    15. Install a thermostat and timer on your evaporative cooler so it only operates when necessary.

Office, Restaurants, Hotels:

  2. Upgrade older toilets, sink faucets, urinals, and showerheads with newer, water-efficient models.
  4. Some commercial refrigerators and ice-makers are cooled with water. Upgrade to air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.
  5. Post a hotline in bathrooms and kitchens to report leaks or water waste to facility managers or maintenance personnel.
  6. Create a suggestion and incentives system at your organization to recognize water-saving ideas.
  7. Include a water-saving tip in your employee newsletter.
  8. Implement a water management plan for your facility, then educate employees on good water habits through newsletters and posters.
  9. Publish your organization’s monthly water use to show progress toward water-saving goals.
  10. Invite your water utility conservation staff to your organization for Earth Day and other environmental events to help promote water savings.
  11. Water audit your facility to find out your recommended water use, then monitor your utility bills to gauge your monthly consumption.
  13. If you use processed water in your business or facility, look into water recycling.
  14. Contact your water utility to see if rebates are available for purchasing water-efficient fixtures, equipment or for facility audits.
  15. Consider and compare water use when purchasing ice makers, dishwashers, reverse osmosis units, coolers and cleaning equipment.
  16. As part of the Fix-A-Leak Week in March, plan an employee campaign to look for leaks.
  17. Determine how your on-site water is being used by installing sub-meters where feasible, then monitoring for savings.
  18. Conduct a facility water use inventory and identify water management goals.
  19. Don’t forget hidden water use costs, like energy for pumping, heating and cooling, chemical treatment, and damage and sewer expenses.
  20. Show your company’s dedication to water conservation through a policy statement. Commit management, staff and resources to the effort.
  21. Shut off water to unused areas of your facility to eliminate waste from leaks or unmonitored use.
  22. Saving water on your landscape adds up quickly. Send the person in charge of your landscape to an irrigation workshop.
  23. Marry the weather with your landscape water use. Water use should decrease during rainy periods and increase during hot, dry periods.
  24. Scrape dishes rather than rinsing them before washing.
  25. A recent study showed that 99% of business managers surveyed ranked water conservation as a “top five” priority over the next decade.
  26. If your facility relies on cooling towers, have maintenance maximize cycles of concentration by providing efficient water treatment.
  27. While cleaning sidewalks, a hose and nozzle use 8-12 gallons of water per minute. A broom uses 0 gallons.
  28. Limit turf areas at your facility. Instead, landscape using water efficient principles to cut water use in half.
  29. Use recirculated water when operating ornamental fountains or decorative water features. 
  30. Wash company vehicles at commercial car washers that recycle water.
  31. Wash company vehicles as needed rather than on a schedule. Stretch out the time in between washes.
  32. Consider turning your high-maintenance water feature/fountain into a low-maintenance art feature or planter.
  33. Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.

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