Last June, the California State Water Resources Control Board proposed a mandatory water limitation beginning in 2022. This will have a significant impact on households and businesses in the San Mateo area, including water usage limitations on outdoor irrigation and inside use.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, one of the country’s major water distributors, imposed conservation measures on its consumers to help prevent additional losses in freshwater supply.

Many jurisdictions now prohibit homeowners from watering their lawns more than once per week. As the state enters its third year of drought, the objective is to reduce water use by 35%.

If you violate these restrictions, you might face a fine of up to $500 per day. A warning, on the other hand, would usually come before any actual action by the Board. Enforcement will be concentrated on local water agencies, with no specialist forces sent to monitor specific communities. Neighbors who wish to report breaches may do so via the Board’s website.

Why Are California Water Restrictions Being Implemented?

Despite recent rainfall in California, the drought has not been totally alleviated. The new rules were enacted in response to expectations of another terrible drought year, with February and March projected to be drier than usual.

Unfortunately, voluntary restrictions were insufficient to accomplish the intended outcome; state water reductions were down 6% from 2006 to last year, whereas Governor Schwarzenegger had aimed for a 15% decrease.

“Conserving water and decreasing water waste are crucial and necessary habits for everyone to embrace as we adjust to these uncertainties and create resilience to climate change,” said Eric Oppenheimer, Chief Deputy Director of the California Water Board. “We must prepare for protracted drought.” There will not be a statewide army of water cops or anything like that.”

Tips on How You Can Conserve Water

In addition to abiding by the new California water restrictions, San Mateo homeowners can take steps to conserve water in preparation for future droughts. Here are some tips from your local plumber:

Check for toilet leaks. A running or leaking toilet can waste up to 6,000 gallons of water every month. To check for leaks, remove the cover from your toilet tank and apply two drops of color before waiting 15-20 minutes. Then, inspect the bowl for signs of leaks. If dye is present, there is a leak enabling tank water to enter the bowl.

Your toilet is not a garbage can.  Every cigarette butt or tissue flushed adds to water contamination by wasting five to seven liters of water. This causes a huge number of problems in the environment. The waste that is flushed down the toilet is not only a waste of resources but also pollutes our waterways which can lead to serious health issues.

Check your faucets and fixtures for leaks. A faucet that leaks at a rate of one drop per second wastes 17 gallons of water each day. That’s a lot of water—and you might be surprised to learn that it’s as simple as a defective rubber washer in the faucet handle.

Install water-saving showerheads. These may reduce your shower flow to three gallons per minute rather than five to ten, and they’re simple to install.

Use a front-loading washing machine. These machines use over 200 percent less water than ordinary top-loading washing machines.

Make use of a shower timer. Showers lasting fewer than five minutes can save up to 1,000 gallons of water every month.

Use an energy-efficient dishwasher. These versions can use up to 50% less water than earlier ones.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Wet your brush before brushing and fill a glass with water to rinse your mouth.

Defrost frozen goods. Instead of running meats and other products under water to defrost, take them out of the freezer.

Wash the veggies in a dish of water.  To save water, do not run the tap when cleaning veggies.

Lawns should be watered in the mornings and evenings. Because the sun’s rays and heat are at their weakest during this time, water will not just evaporate when it falls on the grass.

Clean roads, sidewalks, and steps using a broom. Using a hose can result in the waste of hundreds of gallons of water.

When washing your automobile, do not use the hose. This is required by California water restrictions, but always wash down your car with a bucket of soapy water and rinse it with a hose alone.

Look for irrigation leaks. If you have a landscaping irrigation system, a line break or weak junction might allow water to escape even while the irrigation system is turned off. Check your lawn for particularly moist spots or sections of grass that are lusher than its surroundings to identify these leaks. If you suspect a leak, contact a professional plumber to locate the leak and repair or replace the damaged irrigation lines.

Inspect the lateral lines for leakage. A break or lose joint in one of the subterranean pipes supplying water from your metered connection to your home is possible. Contacting an expert who can propose solutions such as classic trench & replacement, trenchless pipe lining, or pipe bursting is the best option.

Caccia Plumbing is here for All Your Plumbing Needs

As California’s water-restrictions requirement takes effect, now is the perfect time to consider water-saving measures. Contact Caccia Plumbing now to learn more about the various elements that influence your water bill and use, as well as what you can do to restrict your consumption and save money. Our plumbing and water pipe experts can help you with all of your San Mateo home plumbing repair and replacement requirements.