In The Absence of Rain...

It’s not raining in Los Angeles. Every morning, I wake up, excited to see puddles on the sidewalk until I realize it’s just the neighbors, who have once again watered their concrete driveway in addition to the vibrant green lawn that is so definitely not native. In any event, water is scarce, especially clean water. Here’s a few water saving tips to keep in mind for as long as you dwell in Southern California.

There are the obvious, but often overlooked, fundamentals of water saving success: turn off the water while you are washing the dishes, brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your hands.

A few lesser known, but equally important, tips: don’t water your lawn in the afternoon. The sun evaporates a good amount of the water before it has a chance to settle in, and it takes that much more water to get the lawn happy. If you don’t make footsteps on your grass when you walk across it, it probably doesn’t need to be watered, and to grow grass that needs less water, adjust your lawn mower to allow the shoots to grow longer. Longer blades provide shade for the roots, allowing more moisture and requiring less water! (in the winter, you probably only need to water about once every five days). Additionally, layer mulch around your outdoor plants and flowers. This will help reduce evaporation when watering. Take showers instead of baths (and try to limit your shower to 5 minutes—you could save 1000 gallons of water per month!), and when you are running a bath, plug the drain and let the water begin filling while you are waiting for it to get hot. When you are waiting for water to get hot in the kitchen, collect the cold water and use it to water plants. If you have a dishwasher, use it. Dishwashers tend to use less water than hand-washing, especially if you don’t pre-wash the dishes before putting them in. Speaking of appliances, always buy energy efficient models when shopping for new dishwashers or washing machines, and when you do laundry, always do a full load.

There’s no end to the water saving tips I can come up with. This is just a beginning! For more information on how you can make your home healthier, happier and “greener,” visit my website at www.MyHealthyHomeLA.com and request your FREE copy of The Healthy House Answer Book by John and Lynn Bowers.