25. Letting the water run when brushing your teeth or shaving. Two gallons per minute are wasted. Installing a low flow aerator on your faucet can save more than 140 gallons of water a month.

24. Running the faucet until it becomes cool instead of refrigerating a container of drinking water.

23. Not using a stopper when filling the sink to wash dishes by hand.

22. Setting the temperature very high in your spa or pool. Warmer water evaporates more quickly.

21. Running a dishwasher that is not full.

20. Taking long showers without using a low flow showerhead. Reducing your shower time by just 1-2 minutes can save up to 700 gallons per month. Using a low flow showerhead can save up to 800 gallons of water per month.

19. Not repairing leaky faucets. Grab a wrench, it’s simple and can save up to 140 gallons a week. 

18. Over-filling the bathtub instead of using the necessary amount. Bathing babies, small children and pets typically require less than a full bathtub.

17. Washing less than full loads in the clothes washer. Typical clothes washers use 35-50 gallons per load whether full or not.

16. Not regularly checking and repairing leaks inside the home (e.g. bathtubs, faucets, and toilets). 

15. Not replacing pre-1993 toilets with ultra low flush or high efficiency toilets. Toilets installed prior to 1993 use almost 2 gallons more water per flush.

14. Using the toilet as a wastebasket. Wastes up to 5 gallons per flush.

13. Not using a pool cover which reduces water loss due to normal evaporation.

12. Watering on windy days. Water often is blown onto the walkway or driveway. Also water evaporates faster on windy days.

11. Installing plants that require constant watering or are not appropriate for Sacramento’s climate.

10. When irrigating the yard, watering the pavement. Check your sprinklers and adjust them to water the landscape, not the pavement. 

9. Not using compost or mulch to reduce water runoff and evaporation.

8. Not seasonally checking the irrigation system(s) for leaks.

7. Using the garden hose to wash down sidewalks instead of using a broom. A garden hose can use more than 10 gallons of water per minute!

6. Not using soaker hoses or drip irrigation in flower beds which can save up to 50% of water used compared to sprinklers.

5. Using the garden hose without a shutoff nozzle. Pick up your nozzle at SSWD’s administrative office during business hours. 

4. Watering more than three days a week during hot weather. Water your lawn efficiently up to three times per week to assure that moisture reaches deep down to the roots. 

3. Not watering between 9:00 a.m. and Noon or after 8:00 p.m. when water evaporation is minimal.

2. Watering when it is not necessary.

1. and the Number 1 way people waste water…….. Overwatering the lawn! Too much water results in water running off the lawn. Don’t be a gutter flooder!