LOCSD Utilities Department

You can save a lot of water inside and outside your home by practicing wise water habits. Below are some ways you can save water.

	When cleaning off your sidewalks and driveways, use a broom and not the hose.
	Running your hose for 10 minutes will use 50 gallons of water.

	Leave a bottle of water in the refrigerator so you don't have to wait for the tap to get cold.

	Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when you have a full load.
	This will also save you money on your energy bill.

	Turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth or shave. A running faucet uses approximately a gallon of water every minute.

	Check your home for hidden leaks and dripping faucets. Both can use substantial amounts of water.

	Use low-flow showerheads and take shorter showers. Using low-flow showerheads can save up to 3 gallons of water per minute.

	Start a compost pile as an alternative to using the disposal, which uses a lot of water.
	A garbage disposal can add 50 percent to the volume of solids in a septic tank, which can lead to malfunctions and costly maintenance.

	Choose plants that are native to Los Osos because they will require less water. This is called Xeriscaping.

	Water your lawn or garden in the cool early morning or late evening.
	Up to 30% of water used during warm middle of the day watering is lost to evaporation.

	Wash your car with soap and water from a bucket and not a running hose. Never use the toilet as your trash can. Dispose of things like tissues in a wastebasket.

	Don't use hot running water to thaw meat or other frozen items.
	Let food defrost in the refrigerator overnight.

	Insulate your pipes. You will get hot water faster, so you will waste less water waiting for it to heat up.

	If you use a commercial car wash, make sure it is one that uses recycled water.

	*Try to do one thing everyday that saves water because every drop counts!*