California Pollution Control Financing Authority

Sponsored by:

The City of Willits, CA

Willits citizens and business interests

California Pollution Control Financing Authority

Sustainable Communities Grant

For more information call 707-459-4601 or email [email protected]

Sponsored by:





Install an “on-demand” tankless water heater for your

bathroom shower, sink and bathtub so you don't have

to let the water run while it heats up. This will save

water and energy.

• Install a high-efficiency (HE) shower head that uses

1.75 gallons per minute.

• Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes.

• Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition

your hair.

• Install a high-efficiency (HE) dual flush toilet that uses

less water for flushing liquid waste than for solid waste.

• Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the

toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak.

• Check if your toilet flapper sticks open after flushing.

• If your toilet was installed prior to 1980, place a toilet

dam or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to cut

down on the amount of water used for each flush. Be

sure these devices do not interfere with operating

parts.

• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth.

• Turn off the water while you shave.

• Take showers instead of baths. Or limit your baths to

once a week. A bath uses four times as much water as

a shower.

• Plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then

adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.

• Bathe your young children together.

• Keep a bucket in the shower to catch the cold water

before it warms up. Use this water to flush toilets or

water plants.

Bathtub

Toilet

Water Heater

Shower

Sink


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Washing Dishes

Other

Preparing Food•For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the

frigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every

drop goes down you and not the drain.

•Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially

filled with water instead of running water from the tap.

•Collect the water you use for rinsing produce and

reuse it to water houseplants.

•Don't use running water to thaw food.

•Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also

retain more of the nutrients.

•Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans

require more cooking water than may be necessary.

•Throw trimmings and peelings from fruits and

vegetables into your yard compost to prevent from

using the kitchen sink garbage disposal.

•When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run

while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other

with rinse water.

•Try what some Europeans – and Americans – do. Fill

up one sink basin with mildly soapy water (only 4

gallons). Scrape all food bits from the dirty dishes into

the trash can. Then soak, wash and rinse your dishes in

that one sink of water, without running any more water.

The mildly soapy washwater will drip off and evaporate

in the dishrack as designed, leaving squeaky clean

dishes without any noticeable residue.

•Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead

and save gallons every time.

•Designate one glass for your drinking water each day.

This will cut down on water used for dishwashing.

•Buy a high-efficiency (HE) dish washing machine.

•If you have a new dishwasher, cut back on pre-

rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than

older ones.

•For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the

refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every

drop goes down you and not the drain.

•Install an “on-demand” tankless water heater under

your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run

while it heats up.


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Laundry Washing Machine•Run your washing machine only when it’s full.

•Old top-loading washing machines typically use 40

gallons per full load. Purchase a new front-loading,

high-efficiency (HE) machine that uses 15-25 gallons

per full load.

•When doing laundry, match the water level to the

size of the load.

Hot Water Heater•Insulate hot water pipes so you run less water

waiting for it to turn hot.

•Install “on-demand” tankless water heaters in

your kitchen and bathrooms so you don't have to

let the water run while it heats up.

•Locate your hot water heater to minimize the

distance to the kitchen and bathrooms. This will

reduce water waste while waiting for the hot

water to arrive.

Miscellaneous•When cleaning your fishtank, water your houseplants

with the old water, which is rich in nutrients.

•Check for leaky faucets and fix them.

•Install high-efficiency (HE) aerators on all of your

faucets.

•Insulate hot water pipes. This way you run less water

while waiting for it to turn hot.

•Drop your dirty tissue in the trash instead of flushing it

down the toilet.

•When you give your pet fresh water, use the old

water on your trees, shrubs, or houseplants.

•Install auto-flow-starters on all faucets.

•Check your water meter and water bill to track your

water usage from month to month. The more you

know, the easier it is to identify water waste and

opportunities to save water.

•Check your meter leak detector. Turn off all water

fixtures and appliances on your property. If the leak

detector is still spinning then you probably have a leak.

Ask your water purveyor to check your meter and do

a pressure test for leaks.


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•Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust

sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the

house, sidewalk, or street.

•Adjust your watering schedule each month to match

seasonal weather conditions and landscape

requirements.

•To reduce water loss due to evaporation from heat

and sun, irrigate in the early morning.

•More plants die from over-watering than from under-

watering. Be sure to water plants no more than

necessary.

•Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to

reduce runoff and allow for better absorption.

•Only water your lawn when needed. You can tell this

by simply walking across your lawn. If you leave

footprints, it's time to water.

•Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic

sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering.

•Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water

directly to the roots where it's needed.

•Water your plants deeply but less frequently to create

healthier and stronger landscapes.

•Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or

garden with a hose.

•Use a screwdriver as a soil probe to test soil moisture. If

it goes in easily, don't water.

•Use sprinklers that throw big drops of water close to

the ground. Smaller drops of water, high arching spray

and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.

•Use the sprinkler for larger areas of grass. Water small

patches by hand to avoid waste.

•When watering grass on steep slopes, use a soaker

hose to prevent wasteful runoff.

•Install a legal greywater system, which reuses

wastewater from your clothes washer, shower, bath

and sink to irrigate your plants and trees.

•Remember to check your sprinkler system valves

periodically for leaks and keep the heads in good

shape.

•Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or irrigation

your yard receives. Reduce watering to no more than

necessary.

•Teach your family how to shut off your automatic

watering systems. Turn sprinklers off if the system is

malfunctioning or when a storm is approaching.

Irrigation Tips 1

Irrigation Tips 2

Irrigation Tips 3


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•Landscape with Xeriscape trees, plants and

groundcovers. Xeriscape species have been thriving

for thousands of years without human irrigation. They

can provide seasonal color and survive even the driest

summers with little to no watering.

•Replace the unused, ornamental lawn areas with

Xeriscape plants and mulch. Try sheet-mulching.

•Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six

inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than

run off the surface.

•Avoid planting turf in areas that are hard to water

such as steep inclines and isolated strips along

sidewalks and driveways.

Xeriscape

Grass / Turf / Lawn

More Tips•Plant during the spring or fall when the watering

requirements are lower.

•Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce

evaporation.

•Group plants with the same watering needs together

to get the most out of your watering time. Concentrate

water-thrifty plants in one zone and water-thirsty plants

in another.

•While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also

increase water consumption. Apply the minimum

amount of fertilizer needed.

•Start a compost pile. Using compost when you plant

adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.

•Employ bioswales, raingardens and retention ponds in

your yard to keep rainwater on site, which keeps your

soil moist longer, reduces erosion, eases the strain on

the municipal stormwater drainage systems, and helps

recharge our aquifers.

•Use mulch to protect your top soil and retain moisture

longer.

•Redesign your yard to optimize your new legal

greywater reuse system.


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Have a certified greywater installer re-route your

greywater to plants and trees. Greywater is the

wastewater that comes from your shower,

bathtub, bathroom sink and clothes washer. The

State of California and City of Willits allow you to

use greywater to irrigate your fruit trees, nut trees

and food plants as long as certain conditions are

met.

Willits greywater homes

come in all shapes and sizes

Greywater

Rainwater Harvesting•Direct rainwater from downspouts and other runoff

towards mulch basins along the drip lines of plants and

trees.

•Collect rainwater from downspouts in rainbarrels or

larger cisterns, which can be placed above ground or

under your yard, patio, driveway, deck or house.

Pool and Hot Tub•Install covers on your pool and hot tub.

•If you have an automatic refilling device, check for

leaks, especially around your pumps.

•Use a grease pencil to mark the water level of your

pool at the skimmer. Check the mark 24 hours later.

Your pool should lose no more than 1/4 inch each day.

•Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds

are equipped with recirculating pumps.

•When backwashing your pool, consider reusing that

water on your landscaping.

Documents

California Pollution Control Financing Authority