Marin County, and most of California is experiencing “Exceptional” Drought! There’s not Enough Water to Waste It – Help Use Every Drop
Marin Water can help you save water with conservation tips, water-efficient fixtures, rebates and programs. They provide free phone consultations to help you find the conservation programs and rebates that work best for you. Contact them for an appointment, call 415.945.1523 or email Conservation@MarinWater.org.
Marin Water Highlights:
- Mandatory Water Use Restrictions! Know the rules – they are in place because this is an emergency.
- Rebates and Installation Support! From irrigation controllers to washing machines to FREE sheet mulching – get money back for doig the right thing!
- Landscape Plan Review. Find out how to have your best landscape with hardly any water.
- Report Wasted Water. Tips for talking to your neighbor but when all else fails.
- Water Watcher tracks water supply, reservoir levels and shows how WE are doing on our collective conservation targets.
Water Saving Tips from fellow Fairfaxians:
- Use a plate scraper instead of running water to scrape plates. This is huge! (please never use running water to remove food from dishes).
- Keep a wash bucket in your sink. Use dirty water to rinse and pre-wash dishes. Save clean rinse water to use for wiping counters. (you also realize how much water goes down the drain when you collect it to make every drop count).
- Keep a large container in your shower to fill up waiting for the water to get hot. You can save 2 gallons of water per shower! Use it to flush toilets or water plants.
- Turn off your shower when soaping up. You can easily install a quick cut-off valve right at your showerhead. Seriously, it’s easy.
- ONLY run full laundry loads AND full dishwasher loads.
- Plant only drought tolerant plants. Use lots of mulch to retain moisture.
- Replace water guzzler toilets with low-flush. Still though, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow”. You’ll save 10-20 gallon of water per day per person.
Water Conservation in the Home Landscape
Marin Master Gardeners – Receive a free residential garden evaluation from a Marin Master Gardener. Get expert advice on water-wise planting and tips for a beautiful, healthy landscape. Click here for more info
Marin Water – Green House Call. Receive a free indoor efficiency evaluation from one of California Youth Energy Services’ friendly and professional young staff, plus free installation of energy- and water-saving equipment. To learn more, go to www.marinwater.org
Graywater
Graywater is water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, washing machines, and laundry tubs. Graywater does not include waste water from toilets, urinals, kitchen sinks, dishwashers, photo lab sinks, or water from soiled diapers. It is not reclaimed water distributed through “purple pipes.” Graywater can be diverted from the sewer or septic system and used for landscape irrigation and constructed wetlands.
The County of Marin provides lots of information on gray water systems with a “Laundry to Landscape” pamphlet and more.