Frequently Asked Questions

Where does my water come from?

If you live in Orange County, California, your water comes from both the San Joaquin Delta in Northern California and the Colorado River. Other Californians, visit watereducation.org to find out where your water comes from.

How can I find out about the safety and quality of my water?

By July 1st of each year, you should receive an annual water quality report (consumer confidence report or CCR) from your water supplier disclosing where your water comes from and what’s in it. Any community water system serving 100,000 people or more is required to make its reports available on a publicly accessed web site. This http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr/whereyoulive.html?OpenView)">EPA site contains links to lists of drinking water quality reports by states.

What kind of low-flow toilet should I choose?

If the fixtures in your bathroom were installed prior to 1992, replacing one toilet could save between 14,000 and 25,000 gallons for a family of four. Here are 3 tips to purchasing an efficient model:
More expensive does not mean better and while technologies vary, you should compare the Maximum Performance (MaP) scores between models to really assess performance. Check out the CA Urban Water Conservation Council website for latest test results.
Look for models that meet the new High Efficiency Toilet standard to maximize water and money savings. These models typically qualify for incentive programs, too. Check you local water district for rebate and incentive programs.
Measure the dimensions of your bathroom and the distance from the floor flange bolt holes to the rear wall. Older homes tend to have smaller bathrooms, make sure you have enough space for your new model.
 

The bottom line.

Water! We drink it, bathe in it, surf, sail and swim in it. We use it to produce food, consumer products and energy. Decades of over-consumption and contamination has left the quantity and quality of our water supply in serious jeopardy. Simple measures can help turn the tide and there’s no place like home to implement them.

 

Know the facts.

The average roof collects about 22,500 gallons of rain per year. That’s enough to fill 450 fifty-gallon water barrels with free water!

Many people in the world exist on 3 gallons of water a day or less. We can use that amount in one flush of the toilet.

About 95% of the water delivered to our houses goes right down the drain.

Water requires huge amounts of energy, both to treat it and pump it to our houses, so our thirst for water is damaging our planet in more ways than one.
Chelsea Green Guides: Water. Jon Clift & Amanda Cuthbert.

Each year, Californians residents use water volume equal to half the annual flow of the Colorado River. Low-flow fixtures can help. They reduce water use by 30%.
The EPA’s Watershed Program

The demand for water is expected to increase by a third in coming decades, which means we’ll need to learn to use this critical resource much more efficiently.
National Geographic Earth Pulse: State of the Earth 2010.

 

Get inspired. A few projects to get you started.

Build a rain barrel.
Design and construct a rain garden.
Install a drip system.
Identify and plant natives in your yard.
Choose permeable paving materials.
Retrofit your clothes washer to water your yard.
Swap conventional sink and faucet heads for low-flow models.

 

Find support. A list of recommended resources.

Printed Resources
Water: A Natural History. Alice Outwater.
Chelsea Green Guides: Water. Jon Clift & Amanda Cuthbert.
Ocean Friendly Gardens. Douglas Kent, edited by Joe Geeever, produced by the Surfrider Foundation.
Blue Planet Run: The Race to Provide Safe Drinking Water to the World. Rick Smolan.

Online
Bewaterwise.com
California Department of Water Resources http://www.water.ca.gov/
For global information and resources: UN Water. http://www.unwater.org
 

Other
Attend a Backyard Skills course at The Ecology Center.

 

Local Case Study. Irrigation and CA natives in Costa Mesa.

A Costa Mesa ranch-style home is undergoing an outdoor overhaul with concept, garden and irrigation design from Costa Mesa-based creations landscape designs. The homeowners requested a site analysis for plant material, lighting, proper irrigation and drainage and furniture. The result? Brand new planting spaces featuring California natives and edible landscape in the front and backyard, a new, more efficient irrigation and drainage system, a slatted patio cover for shading and added seating for more comfortable outdoor living. Source: Rama Nayeri at http://www.creationslandscapedesigns.com.

Location: East-side Costa Mesa, CA
Property Size: 6162 sq. ft.
House: ranch style
House Size: 1942 sq. ft.
Yard Size: Back - 2367 sq. ft. Front - 600 sq.ft.
Edibles: citrus trees and herbs
Reuse Strategies: some existing plants were protected in place, concrete pavers removed from the side yard were used in the back to compliment California native grasses, salvaged brick used for walkways, patio and drive

Informed? Inspired? Don’t stop now! Stay connected to your local source of sustainability education and become a member of The Ecology Center today.