Conservation measures sought after spike in water use

BE WATER WISE

Water usage in Leisure World was up 21 percent, according to the latest City of Seal Beach water bill. The GRF has asked the city to see if there are underlying causes, but in the meantime, residents are asked to implement water conservation measures.

Kitchen

• There’s nothing as refreshing as a cold drink of water, but don’t let the faucet run to get it. Chill a container of water in the refrigerator instead.

• Avoid running the faucet over frozen food to defrost it; put it in the refrigerator the night before or defrost in the microwave.

• Rethink any tasks you usually perform under running water—like washing vegetables or brushing your teeth. (A gallon of water is wasted if the faucet is half open for 1 minute.) Use a dishpan or bowl to catch the water instead of letting it run down the drain. Then pour the water from the bowl onto your house plants.

Appliances

• Set the water level on your washing machine to match the size of your load. Try to avoid doing frequent small loads; whenever possible, run the machine only when you have a full load.

• You don’t need to rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Hand rinsing dishes under the faucet uses up a lot of water. If your dishwasher has a pre-rinse cycle, try using it instead of hand rinsing. If a dish or two isn’t completely clean after the dishwasher cycle, finish the job by hand.

• Like the washing machine, only run the dishwasher when it’s full. If you have only a few dishes, wash them by hand in a sink—not under a running faucet. Use a second basin or dishpan for rinsing.

The Bathroom

The bathroom offers the next biggest opportunity to save water.

• Make sure your toilets are all working properly. According to the American Water Works Association, the average American home loses 14 percent of all water used to leaks. If you think you have a problem, call your Mutual director. If you hear water running in an adjacent unit, call Security.

• Keep your showers as brief as possible, or turn the water off while shaving or scrubbing in the stall.

• If you have a bathtub, when taking a bath, close the drain while the water warms up, then adjust the temperature. Monitor the tub as it fills, and turn the water off at the half-way mark.

• Turn off tap water while brushing your teeth.

• Leak detection tablets, a dye tablet, can help people check for leaking toilet components. Up to 20 gallons of water a day can be lost this way.

Outside

• Sprinkler set-ups can be overwatering lawns and greenbelts. Residents should report standing water that could be attributed to sprinkler overwatering to their Mutual directors. These puddles also foster mosquitos, which can exacerbate the potential for West Nile Virus.

• Use a broom, not the garden hose, to wash off patios or side walks.

• Use the carwash located at Clubhouse 2as it uses recycled water.

• Water gardens in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures are cooler.

Water conservation begins with each individual. If each member makes a few simple adjustments to his or her household routine, the community can conserve thousands of gallons of water and save thousands of dollars each year.

In California’s Mediterranean climate, winter rains typically taper off and end in the spring. By November, rain usually arrives and wets down the landscape, dampening the fire danger.