Here are some great water saving tips from the San Diego County Apartment Association.  Start doing your part today to save water!

In the Bathroom 
1. Report leaks or running toilets immediately. If you have leaking faucets or toilets that run, report them immediately to your landlord or building supervisor.  Water that just goes down the drain is water, well, down the drain.

2. Don’t toss solids into the toilet. A toilet isn’t a trash can, so don’t use it as one. If you habitually toss things like cigarette butts, used tissues, or other solid waste into the toilet, you’re wasting up to seven gallons of water with each flush. We’re in a drought. Invest in a waste basket.

3. If it’s yellow, let it mellow. And if it’s brown, flush it down.  If leaving yellow water standing upsets your delicate sensibilities, just lower the toilet seat. Out of sight, out of mind.

4. Get a low-flow showerhead. Many apartment complexes already install water saving devices on showerheads and faucets; we will be installing low-flow shower heads in the next few months if you do not already have one.

5. Adjust your toilet flush volume. The average toilet uses five to seven gallons of water for each flush. But you often don’t need that much water for an effective flush. Most toilet fill valves can be adjusted to a desired water level for lower flush volume. We will evaluate your toilet, and will possibly swap it out for a low-flow toilet in the next few months as well.

6. Get a shower timer. The occasional long, hot shower can be great physical therapy, but you shouldn’t consider your shower a spa. Did you know a four-minute shower uses approximately 10 gallons of water? Investing in a simple shower timer to help you stay conscious of the time can easily cut your water consumption here in half. These digital timers can be calibrated to the flow of your showerhead and also display the amount of water used.

7. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth. Unless you’re warming up the water for subsequent face-washing, there’s no need to run water you’re not using.