1. Fix those drips. A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water a day, while a leaking toilet can waste 90,000 gallons in a month. 2. Shorten that shower. Cut five minutes off your shower time and save up to 25 gallons a day. 3. Slow the flow. Inexpensive faucet aerators can save gallons of water per person every day. 4. Turn off the tap. When brushing your teeth or shaving, turn off the tap and save eight gallons a day. 5. Go low-flow. Replace your old shower head with a low-flow model and cut your water use by 20% or more every time you shower. 6. Update those appliances. When it's time to update your appliances, go for a front-loading washing machine and a water-efficient dishwasher. You'll save both water and energy. 7. Replace that water-guzzling toilet. If possible, replace your old toilet with a modern, water-efficient one and use about half the water per flush. 8. Sweep up savings. Instead of hosing your driveway or sidewalk, use a broom. 9. Think beyond the lawn. Choose plants appropriate to your climate when you landscape. They'll need much less water. 10. Irrigate like a pro. Your lawn probably needs less water than you think. And your sidewalk doesn't need any.The complete list, along with other water-saving tips and resources, can be found at http://www.saveourh2o.org/index.cfm/what-you-can-do/10-water-saving-tips- for-2010/. The Save Our Water program was launched in April 2009 by the Association of California Water Agencies and the Department of Water Resources in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's statewide drought proclamation. Patterned after the successful "Flex Your Power" public education program, the program aims to provide ongoing education for Californians about the state's water challenges and encourage greater water conservation. It is a key component of the state's effort to meet the conservation requirements in the new comprehensive water package signed into law in November 2009. For more information about the "Save Our Water" program and ways to conserve water, visit www.saveourh2o.org or follow the program on Facebook or Twitter. For more information about ACWA, visit www.acwa.com. To learn more about the Department of Water Resources, visit www.water.ca.gov.
Contact Information: Media contacts: Jennifer Persike Association of California Water Agencies 916-441-4545 or 916-296-3981 (cell) Matt Notley Department of Water Resources 916-651-7242 or 916-216-8622 (cell)