SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento region reduced water use by 30 percent overall in 2015 compared to 2013, according to an analysis by the Regional Water Authority (RWA), which represents water providers in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo and Sutter counties. The findings come from a review of water use data submitted to RWA and the State Water Resources Control Board.
“For two straight years under both voluntary conservation in 2014 and mandatory conservation in 2015 the Sacramento region has gone above and beyond to reach goals set by the Governor during this severe drought,” said RWA Water Efficiency Program Manager Amy Talbot. “These savings come on top of a nearly 20 percent reduction in water use over the past decade. Residents are to be commended for taking extraordinary steps to cut back.”
Especially significant were water reductions from May through August, when savings averaged nearly 37 percent. “Those summer water reductions saved substantial amounts of water overall,” Talbot said.
Even in the winter months—including December—savings has been significant, Talbot noted. December water savings in the Sacramento region was 26 percent overall.
“We continue to ask people to keep up the great work—even as we enjoy the recent rainy days,” Talbot said. “There’s still a long way to go before we’re out of the drought.”
RWA and local water providers are asking residents to:
- Turn off sprinklers until spring and let El Nino do the watering: 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.
- Limit shower time: Less time in the shower can pay off with big savings, even if you already have a water-efficient showerhead. Keeping showers to five minutes (instead of 10) will save 12.5 gallons every time.
- Wash only full loads of laundry: Waiting until the washer is full can save 15 to 45 gallons per load, depending upon the efficiency of your machine. Other water-wise laundry tips: Wash clothes in cold water (which will also retain their color) to save energy, select the minimum
amount of water required per load (for machines with a variable water volume setting) and use the shortest wash cycle for lightly soiled clothes.
Additional water-saving 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.
