Given the low winter rainfall and the sorry state of our reservoirs, everyone in California is being asked to reduce water usage.  There are many ways to reduce water usage both inside and outside our homes.  Inside the house, you can capture relatively clean water from your showers, baths, and dishwashing–which can then be used in the garden. In your garden, you should prioritize irrigation of your trees and vegetables, because grasses and smaller plants will either survive or be easy to replace.

Here are the favorite ways in which Sausalito Beautiful Board members save water:

• Install a Flume device which tracks water usage on a real-time basis so you can see how much you use and where. Marin Municipal Water District has discounts which reduce the price to $50. It’s easy to install, and the smart phone app will help you track your water budget.
• For new plantings, seriously consider native plants which will use much less water during the summers (if any). An additional benefit of native plants are the extensive ecosystems of flora and fauna that they support.
• Limit showers to five minutes, or take “interrupted showers” (only have the water turned on when you need it). Turn the water on initially to get wet, then off it off while shampooing your hair, turn it on to rinse, then off while soaping up, etc.
• Reduce water when hand-washing dishes. Stage a bowl in the sink for the soapy water, and rinse on reduced pressure. You can also capture your rinse water and use it for watering your garden.
• Use bath water in the garden. One board member celebrates the end of each week with a restorative Sunday morning bath. First, she cuts a few herbs and flowers from the garden and floats them in the bath water. Then sprinkles in a cup full of Epsom salts. Finally she gets in to enjoy her coffee while reading the paper or a good book for an hour. The water remains in the bath so that it can be bucketed out during the week for her garden. Epsom salts help improve flower blooming and enhance a plant’s green color.
• In a small bucket, capture water from the sink or shower when the water is warming up. The water can be used in the garden or to fill the toilet tank as it finishes flushing.

What steps are you using to reduce your water usage? Share your best ideas below!