SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento region continued to use less water in January compared to the same month in 2013, according to an analysis of local water use data submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and Regional Water Authority (RWA), which represents water providers in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo and Sutter counties.
According to RWA’s analysis, water use in January 2016 dropped 11 percent compared to 2013 (the year the SWRCB uses for comparison).
“January is typically one of the lowest water use months in the year as people turn off their sprinklers for winter,” said Water Efficiency Program Manager Amy Talbot. “With limited opportunities to further reduce water use outdoors, people have to squeeze their savings from indoor conservation, which is a much more difficult task. In spite of that challenge, residents continued to conserve.”
RWA is asking residents to keep up the great work. Just as it takes several years to enter a drought, it also typically takes several years to ease out of a drought, Talbot said. While conditions have improved, most of the state is in an extreme drought or worse, and a statewide drought emergency remains in place along with mandatory conservation measures.
Water-saving tips for winter include:
- Keep sprinklers off until spring: With winter’s shorter and rainy days, your landscape typically doesn’t need any extra water.
- Replace older, water-wasting fixtures and appliances with high-efficiency models. This is especially true for toilets, clothes washers and showerheads, which together account for the majority of indoor water use. Remember to look for the WaterSense label.
- Check plumbing and appliances for leaks and fix them within 48 hours. Steady faucet drips and running toilets are common sources of leaks that can waste thousands of gallons of water each month. Fixing them can be as simple as replacing a washer or toilet flapper. When you find leaks, be sure to turn off water to the problem area until it can be repaired.
Additional tips plus information about rebates and free services available to help residents use less water is available at BeWaterSmart.info.
About the Regional Water Authority: RWA is a joint powers authority representing two dozen water providers and affiliates in the greater Sacramento area. Its primary mission is to help its members protect and enhance the reliability, availability, affordability and quality of water resources.
