Amidst a sun filled L.A. summer, the California drought remains on the minds of Angelenos as they try to keep cool. After years of record low rainfall, L.A. County has been making an increased effort to conserve water with participation from its government agencies, local businesses and residents.
Last week, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti deployed the last 20,000 of 96 million “shade balls” covering the surface of the Sylmar-based reservoir in an attempt to protect the region’s water supply. Officials suggest this will stem 90% of evaporation loss, saving 300 million gallons annually.
The City of Beverly Hills has ordered that water use be reduced by 36 percent and has mandated that hotels and restaurants serve water only upon request.
In addition to the city’s efforts, there are many ways for residents to reduce their water consumption this summer. Here are some water saving tips:
- Wait until the dishwasher is full before running it.
- Don’t rinse scraps of food down the sink after dinner. Scrape them into the garbage.
- Fix any leaky faucets, which can waste 1500 gallons a month.
- Wait for a full load to wash your clothes or if you have the option, be sure to use the load-size control.
- Place a cup or refillable water bottle in the bathroom for brushing your teeth.
- Cut your shower time in half to preferably 4-5 minutes.
- Install water saving showerheads and ultra-low-flush toilets.
- Don’t let the water run while you’re shaving.
- Raise your lawn mower cutting height – longer grass blades help shade each other, reduce evaporation, and inhibit weed growth.
- Change the landscape of your lawn with native or drought-tolerant plants.
- Sweep driveways, sidewalks and steps instead of using a hose to do the dirty work.
- Invest in a pool cover. The average pool can lose a jaw-dropping 20,000 gallons a year to evaporation.
The Agency is proud to support The City of Beverly Hills and their water conservation measures. To learn more about their efforts, click here.
