Water Conservation

Water Consumption Information

• Less than 1% of the earth’s water supply is fresh and available for human consumption. There is no "new" water, so please do what you can to conserve our precious resource.
• The average Healdsburg resident uses about 200 gallons of water per day. During the hottest months in July and August, local residents use 300 gallons per day. A large portion of this is used for outdoor irrigation. Every day in our city, we consume a total average of about 2.1 million gallons.
• Every day in the United States, we drink about 110 million gallons of water. The act of showering and bathing accounts for one of the largest uses (27%) of water domestically.
• Nearly 1/2 of the world’s population lacks access to clean water for sanitation, drinking and other human needs.
• You can save up to 5 gallons every day by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
• A leaky faucet can waste 100 gallons a day.

Did You Know...?
By simply changing some of your habits, you can help conserve water.

Some common water uses:

Activity	Typical Use	When You Conserve
Showers	3-7 gallons/minute	under 2.5 gallons/minute
Tub Bath	60 gallons, filled completely	20-30 gallons, minimal water
Toilet Flush	5-7 gallons/flush	1.3 gallons or less/flush, "low consumption" or "ultra-low flush"
Washing Hands	10 gallons with tap running	1 gallon, fill basin
Brushing Teeth	10 gallons with tap running	1/2 gallon or less, wet brush, rinse briefly
Shaving	20 gallons, with tap running	1 gallon, fill basin
Washing Machine	40-60 gallons, full water level	25 gallons, "tumble efficient" washer
Automatic Dishwasher	15 gallons, full cycle	11 gallons, short cycle

What You Can Do To Conserve
In the Bathroom

• Replace your old shower head with a good-quality, high-efficiency shower head.
• Check for and repair leaks in your pipes, faucets and toilets.
• Don’t use your toilet as a waste basket. Use a fill cycle regulator to decrease the fill of water into your bowl.

In the Kitchen & Laundry

• Only run your dishwasher and washing machines when they are full.
• Instead of running the faucet to wait for cold water, fill a pitcher of water with drinking water and store it in your refrigerator.

In the Great Outdoors

• When washing your car, use soap and water from a bucket.
• Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for the final rinse only.
• Use a broom instead of water from a hose to clean your driveway.
• Landscape with plants that require low water consumption.
• Water your lawn no more than every third day, and only during the cool time of the day in the morning or evening.
• Adjust the sprinklers so only the lawn and plants are being watered, not your house, the sidewalk or the street.