Dry Sonoma Valley Urged to Conserve

The latest heat spell to hit Sonoma Valley reminds us all just what a dry spring we had this year. With temps above 100 degrees again this week, vegetation is looking like it's late August instead of early July.

On June 30th, at the end of the water year, the Sonoma County Water Agency urged its customers to voluntarily reduce water use. Rainfall was just 24 inches last season, well below the 31-inch average recorded over the previous 30 years - and the majority of the rain came in the fall and early winter months. After an even drier 2006-2007 water year, SCWA anticipated the necessity for reduced releases from Lake Mendocino coming into the hot summer months and called for reductions in line with what everyone came through with last season (15 - 20%).

And let's be honest - reducing unnecessary water use doesn’t just make for good karma, it saves you money on your water bill! Are you doing all that you can to conserve water?

First and foremost - stop the leaks
You’d be surprised how much water goes down the drain as a result of leaking faucets and connections or running toilets. If you need the cold hard facts, visit this USGS website to find out just how much one leaky faucet can set back your water budget. Check it out.

Also, it’s a good idea to have a separate shut-off for your irrigation system so that if leaks develop outside – and they often do – you can shut your system down until repairs can be made without affecting the house supply.

Replace your old water-hungry toilet
The toilet is certainly the largest water user inside your house, so take advantage of the Sonoma County Water Agency’s rebate program and replace any old non low flow toilets. The water agency will reimburse Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District customers (sewer customers, not septic users) $150 for each high-efficiency toilet installed in a residence and $260 for each low flow toilet installed in a business – when you are replacing an old non low flow model. Not bad!

...and water-hungry clothes washer
Rebates are also available for installing water efficient clothes washers; check with Valley of the Moon Water District (996-1037) or City of Sonoma (938-3681) for more info on what appliances qualify for rebate. On septic? You may still qualify for the same rebates if you are a Valley of the Moon Water District customer or get your water from the City of Sonoma. Check with your water supplier for details.

Choose appropriate plants
Customers in our service area enjoy a Mediterranean climate, which means hot dry summers. With so many wonderful choices available, there's really no excuse for watering plants adapted to a different climate. Reducing turf area to a sensible minimum and growing plants best suited for your area automatically reduces your irrigation use.

...as long as you follow thru and water less, that is
Duh! But you'd be surprised - you might even surprise yourself. Seriously, remember to adjust your watering schedule to match your new heat- and sun-loving landscape. Also, include plenty of hose bibs in your outside set-up for easy hand watering and spot watering.

Would you like more information? And, even better, how about some free help evaluating water use at your home? If you are a customer of City of Sonoma or Valley of the Moon Water District you can call the Water Smart Home Program and a representative of the Sonoma County Water Agency will visit your home or apartment building and provide free water saving tools to help you use water more efficiently. For single family homes, the service even includes evaluation of your outdoor irrigation system. An appointment takes about an hour and a half and can be scheduled weekdays during daylight hours. To find out more and to schedule an appointment, call 547-1910.

More links...

:: Visit SCWA website for their top ten tips.
:: Visit www.h2ouse.org for more details on wise water use.

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Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com