|
|
|
|
|
WaterSmart San Clemente!
|
San Clemente has been WaterSmart for many years, but it is especially important now given that our water supply has been cut.
A Water Shortage Level 2 Water Alert has been declared on account of a continuing water supply shortage. To read what water waste restrictions are in place, consult the City's Water Conservation Ordinance below.
A few simple changes can dramatically reduce your water consumption. See the WatersmartSC: Do More with Less Tips section, below, for ways to be more WaterSmartSC.
Join pro Surfer, Rob Machado , this year in being water smart.
For additional tips on how to be WaterSmart in and around your home, explore this page and also visit these websites:
www.twitter.com/watersmartSC
www.bewaterwise.com
www.mwdoc.com
www.h2ouse.org
EPA WaterSense
|
|
EMail about WaterSmart San Clemente!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water Shortage Level 2 Water Alert
|
The City Council declared a Water Shortage Level 2 Water Alert on July 7, 2009 effective through at least June 30, 2010.
A Water Shortage Level 2 Water Alert has been declared because the City's water supply has been cut by 12% from our water wholesalers. This cut represents a 20,000 gallon cut for every account the City provides water to until June 2010.
Complying with these conservation restrictions will help San Clemente stretch its water supply further and avoid exceeding its allocation from the regional water wholesaler. Should we use more water than allocated, we potentially face painful penalty charges.
You can keep track of how well we're conserving our water and (hopefully) staying below our allocation by clicking on this link!
The following brochures highlight the water waste restrictions now in place for particular customers:
Residential Water Restrictions Brochure
Commercial Landscape Water Restrictions Brochure
Commercial/Hospitality Water Restrictions Brochure
Several notable water waste restrictions include:
Plumbing and irrigation leaks must be fixed within 24 hours
Outdoor watering is prohibited between 9am and 6pm. Watering during these hours is permitted, however, if done by hand using a hose with a automatic shutoff nozzle, if by drip irrigation, or if controlled by a weather-based or sensor-based irrigation controller.
Overspray and runoff is to minimized.
Hoses must be equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle to wash vehicles and all wash water must be prevented from entering the stormdrain.
Washing impervious surfaces with a hose is prohibited unless it is equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle and wash water must be prevented from entering the stormdrain.
Food and beverage service facilities shall not serve water to customers except up on request of the customer.
To read the full text of the Water Conservation Ordinance, click the link below.
|
|
|
|
More information on Water Shortage Level 2 Water Alert
|
|
|
|
|
|
REBATES are Back!!!
|
Starting September 21, 2009, a limited number of rebates will be available through the SoCal Water$mart program when it re-launches for Southern California residential water customers. Residential water customers are those living in houses or apartments, townhomes, condominiums or mobile home complexes with less than five dwellings that are NOT represented by a homeowners association or property management company.
Starting September 21, 2009, the Save A Buck program relaunches for Southern California commercial, industrial, institutional, and multi-family water customers. This program classifies multi-family properties as apartments, condominiums, townhomes and mobile homes with five dwellings or more that are represented by a homeowners association or property management company.
Funding is limited and reservations are available on a first come, first-served basis for commercial customers.
Click the link below for more information:
|
|
|
|
More information on REBATES are Back!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
WaterSmartSC Tips
|
It is incredibily easy to save 20 gallons of water a day - you just need to know how! Use water savings tips like those above and others to
do more with less!
Here are a sample of water smart tips:
Shortening your showers will save 2.5 gallons per minute.
Fixing a leaky toilet can save from 30-100+ gallons per day.
Replacing older, high-volume toilets with High Efficiency Toilets (HETs) can save 1.9-3.8 gallons per flush. That equates to approximately 8,000 gallons a year.
Watering before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m. can save 20-25 gallons per day.
Don't overwater - Reducing each irrigation cycle by 1-3 minutes can save 15-25 gallons per minute.
Using a broom instead of a hose to clean outdoor surfaces can save 8-18 gallons per minute.
|
|
|
|
More information on WaterSmartSC Tips
|
|
|
|
How Long Should I Run My Sprinklers?
|
An irrigation spray head can emit 2 gallons a minute - if a lawn with 10 spray heads was overwatered by 5 minutes every day that would be a waste of 100 gallons every day!
We strongly encourage you to check your irrigation system for leaks and to reduce runtimes so as to minimize runoff and impacts to water quality. The City has put together a helpful irrigation scheduling guide which provides a template for weekly and monthly watersmart irrigation.
The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) has a
Sprinkler Calculator to help you create a customized watering schedule. Use MWD's Watering Index to help you determine what percentage of summer scheduling you should run your system for in cooler seasons.
Example: Say in summer you run your lawn for 8 minutes. If the watering index is 50% you will only have to schedule your system to run for 4 minutes. Some controllers have a "% Adjust" feature - use it!
|
|
EMail about How Long Should I Run My Sprinklers?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water Use Calculator
|
This handy tool lets you compare your actual water usage to efficient water use at your home based on the types of fixtures/appliances you have and watering schedules. Very easy to input and see savings. Best of all, it calculates $$$$ savings too! Click the link below:
|
|
|
|
More information on Water Use Calculator
|
|
|
|
|
|
WaterSmart Plant List!
|
Tired of paying so much to keep your landscape green? We've selected brilliant WaterSmart plants for you to consider using in your landscape to replace plants that have a drinking problem (looking at you grass!). These WaterSmart plants will save you time (less maintenance) and money (water & fertilizer) and keep you and your landscape "green".
Take a look around your home and prioritize non-recreational areas of grass to convert over with WaterSmart plants and mulch. What is non-recreational grass? If the only time you step onto an area of grass is when you mow, weed, or fertilize it, consider that a prime candidate!
The City has put together a helpful WaterSmart Plant List so click this link and begin your landscape makeover!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FREE Indoor Water Conservation Kit!
|
San Diego Gas & Electric is providing its customers with a FREE indoor water cosnervation kit which includes three faucet aerators and a low-flow showerhead (1.5 gal/min). These easy-to-install items maintain a high-pressure flow while reducing water usage up to 11%.
When you save water, you're also saving energy used for water-heating, which can help lower your monthly energy bill.
Click the link below to receive your FREE kit....helping the enviroment couldn't be easier!
|
|
|
|
More information on FREE Indoor Water Conservation Kit!
|
|
|
|
Water Supply Shortage
|
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, or MWD, (San Clemente's main water supply) has implemented a Water Supply Allocation Plan which will initiate mandatory conservation throughout Southern California, effective July 1, 2009. Without the Plan, Metropolitan's reserve levels could have been reduced by as much as 60%, or 650,000 acre-feet. An Acre-Foot is enough water to cover a football field a foot deep with water and could satisfy the needs of two families of 4 for a year.
MWD has cut its water deliveries to San Clemente by 12% starting July 2009 and lasting until June 2010. It's imperative we're all WaterSmart San Clemente!
|
|
|
|
More information on Water Supply Shortage
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob Machado PSA
|
Please join pro surfer, Rob Machado, in being water smart this summer. Rob provides some practical tips on how to use less water during this time of shortage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Where Does Our Water Come From?
|
The majority (~90%) of our drinking water is imported from the Colorado River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta via the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. This supply source is becoming increasingly strained and beginning July 1, 2009, water deliveries will be cut which is why San Clemente faces mandatory conservation.
Ground water extracted from City wells comprise about five percent of the total water source. The City is able to generate 2.2 million gallons of recycled water every day for irrigation use. The City’s Municipal golf course and the Pacific golf course are the major recipients of the reclaimed water.
Click the link below to see a detailed image of California's water infrastructure which brings water to San Clemente.
|
|
|
|
More information on Where Does Our Water Come From?
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Water Use Went Up, What Can I Do?
|
The most common sources of increased water consumption are toilet leaks and changes in irrigation system programming (and/or leaks in your irrigation system!). A leaky toilet can consume 30-100+ gallons of water a day!
You may also want to take a look at your water meter to see if the meter indicates you have a leak. See the next section for tips on how to read your meter. Also read through the 20 Gallon Tipsheet section above!
Please contact savewater@san-clemente.org or call 949 361-8354 for more information and help.
|
|
EMail about My Water Use Went Up, What Can I Do?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How Do I Read My Water Meter & Check For Leaks?
|
The only way to use water efficiently is to know how much you use. The best tool to measure water use is your water meter! The City reads your meter every month to calculate your water and sewer bill. You can read your meter to make sure meter reads are accurate. Click on the link below to learn how to read your meter.
If you think that you may have a leak the first place you should go to is your water meter. In addition to measuring your water use, every water meter is equiped with a leak detection dial (in the shape of a triangle, star or similar shape)that spins if any water at all passes through the meter. You may contact the water conservation specialist at SaveWater@San-Clemente.org or (949)361-8354 for a free leak assessment or you may want to contact a plumber directly to fix the leak/s.
Click here for a simple guide on how to read your meter and check for leaks!
|
|
EMail about How Do I Read My Water Meter & Check For Leaks?
|
|
|
|
|
|
What Do I Pay For Water?
|
|
The Utility Rate Structure includes three rate tiers. The first tier is intended to reward outstanding water conservation efforts by our customers. The average household will see some usage in the second tier. If you would like a history of your water use, please contact 949 361-8354. Residential customers that have a total lot size greater than 7,000 square feet
may apply for a Large Lot Allocation.
Click here for a Large Lot Allocation.
If there isn’t a large lot allocation form on file, the
assumption is that your lot size is less than 7,000 square feet. There is a one
time application fee of $10 for the Large Lot Application.
|
|
EMail about What Do I Pay For Water?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calculate the Total Amount of Water You Use
|
Every aspect of our lives is connected to water, and we use enormous amounts of it to make everything from electricity to food to household products. For example, it takes 24 gallons of water to make a single pound of plastic, and over a hundred gallons to make a pound of cotton. Even the electricity we use is tied to water - with power plants consuming 40 percent of our country's fresh water resources.
Use the H2O Calculator to measure your water footprint!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Know Your Soil!
|
Soil has a tremendous impact on the amount of water you should use in your landscape and how you apply water (frequency, duration, etc.). Clay soils are the dominant soil type in San Clemente and are like a very thin sponge: they can only hold so much water before water stops infiltrating and begins to run off. This is why it is important to break your irrigation run times into cycles and soaks.
As an example, say you water your lawn for 8 minutes in the summer. After about 3 minutes of irrigation you may begin to see run off and water exiting onto cement or into the street. Instead, break the 8 minute runtime up into two 4 minute runtimes with at least a half hour of soak time between the two runtimes. This will minimize runoff, improve your efficiency, and make sure water stays in the soil and is available for plants!
To view a generalized soils map of Orange County follow this link.
To get a detailed look into what soils exist below your site, explore the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Web Soil Survey. This soil survey is interactive and provides a map of your site with overlays of the soil types found in your area along with detailed information about those soils.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Low Cost Ways to Conserve Water Inside Your Home!
|
Nearly 450 million people in 29 countries face severe water shortages. Predictions indicate that within 5 years, at least 36 U.S. states will face water shortages due to a combination of rising temperatures, drought, population growth, and waste. California is already experiencing water shortages as are other western states.
But there is hope -- research has shown that residential water use could be reduced by as much as 50 percent through efficiency. Here are a few simple, low-cost suggestions for reducing your family's water consumption.
Reduce Water Use from Showers and Faucets
Although it's often the smallest room in the house, the bathroom is where 75 percent of indoor household water consumption occurs. Seem impossible? Consider this: The average 6-minute shower uses about 20 gallons of water! Reduce this amount with the following tips:
No cost: Limit shower time to 5 minutes or less.
Less than $10: Install an on/off valve between the shower arm and showerhead. This temporarily shuts off the flow while maintaining the temperature, and can be a useful water-saver while soaping up or shaving.
$10-$50: Install a low-flow (less than 2 gallons per minute) showerhead. Previous low-flow showerheads sacrificed water pressure for efficiency, but now there are many options (GAIAM and Delta make two of my favorites) that don't simulate a dripping faucet.
$20-$50: Insulate all accessible hot-water pipes, especially those within 3 feet of the water heater. You'll get hot water faster, avoid wasting H2O while it heats up, and save energy in the process.
Finally, fit all household faucets with low-flow aerators (less than two gallons per minute). This is the best in-home water conservation method, and it's also the cheapest.
Toilets are the Enemy
Each day, the U.S. uses 5.8 billion gallons of fresh water to flush waste. If you're in the market for a new porcelain throne, check out options with either a high efficiency toilet, or HET, 1.28 gallon per flush (gpf) rating.
While pre-1994 toilets use 3.5 gallons or more per flush, an HET uses just 1.28 gallons per flush. Saving 2.22 gallons at a time may not seem like much, but if your toilet is flushed 10 times per day, that's a savings of over 150 gallons of water per week, or approximately 8,000 gallons per year!
Rebates exist for High Efficiency Toilets ($50) and are available at www.bewaterwise.com. Follow the link below.
And if you haven't budgeted for a new toilet, try these quick fixes:
Check for leaks: Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.
Displace water: Most older toilets don't require nearly as much water as they use (3.5-5 gallons) to flush properly. To "trick" your toilet into using less water, place a half-gallon plastic bottle inside your toilet tank to displace water volume. (Be sure at least 2.5 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.) Ideally, weigh down the bottle with sand or pebbles so it doesn't interfere with the tank mechanisms. This simple retrofit could save a three-person family 225 gallons of water per month!
Not a do-it-yourselfer? For only a few dollars, you can purchase a prepared toilet bag designed to displace 0.8 gallons of water with every flush.
Minimize Appliance Water Consumption
Outside the bathroom, most water is used to wash clothes and dishes. Rather than wearing dirty clothes and using paper plates, keep these tips in mind while tackling daily chores:
Fully loaded: Dishwashers and clothes washers should be operated when full for optimum water conservation. If you must wash partial loads, adjust the water levels as appropriate.
The dishwasher is your friend: Even old-school dishwashers don't use as much water per dish as hand-washing. Newer, more efficient dishwashers use only 1/6 of the water used during hand-washing, and save 230 hours of yourtime each year.
Scrape, don't rinse: Pre-rinsing dishes before loading the dishwasher is unnecessary. Scrape off food and then trust that bad boy to do its job.
Pass on permanent press: Avoid the permanent press cycle when washing clothes, which uses an additional 5 gallons for the extra rinse.
Upgrade your equipment: Consider buying a High Efficiency Clothes Washer (HECW). Follow the link below for rebate information on HECWs.
|
|
|
|
More information on Low Cost Ways to Conserve Water Inside Your Home!
|
|
|