Water Conservation

Less is More, Any Time of the Year
What is your household's water footprint? 

Find out with Grace Communications Foundation's Water Footprint Calculator! 
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.