Doing our share in a drought
Solano County, and most of Northern California, is in a drought. As a supporter of Solano Land Trust, you are already helping to improve water quality and water recharge that is taking place on our natural lands. Thank you.
In addition, we can all play a role to conserve and protect this natural resource. As a reminder, here are 10 ways to do our share (while saving money on water bills):
1. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth and doing dishes.
2. During the pandemic, we are all washing our hands frequently for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you turn off the faucet while lathering up.
3. When washing dishes by hand, fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water. Don’t let the water run.
4. Run the washing machine and dishwasher with full loads.
5. Fix leaks in faucets, toilets, and pipes.
6. Use a low-flow showerhead and faucet aerators, and install a dual flush or low flow toilet. Try for five-minute showers.
7. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways, sidewalks, and patios.
8. If you have a yard, don’t overwater your lawn or water during peak periods. Water early or late in the day when temperatures are cooler.
9. Water less. Consider replacing water-hungry plants with those that are drought tolerant. Mulch your garden and adjust your sprinklers to ensure only your yard is being watered, not your house, sidewalk, or street.
10. Compost your scraps to cut back on water used to run a garbage disposal. This also keeps wet trash out of the landfill, which is a leading contributor to greenhouse gasses.
Read further: The Federal Government and the Red Cross offer excellent advice on dealing with drought.
Photos courtesy of Don Komarechka and Tom Muehleisen