As the winter season arrives in California, we’re starting to see rain and snow. But it’s important to remember we’re still in a drought and Save Our Water is urging everyone to continue to conserve water. Drought is nothing new in California and as we enter our third dry year in a row, the new year presents a new opportunity to make resolutions to conserve water.   

Efforts to save water have been ongoing, but it is important that Californians make water conservation a priority this holiday season. California’s Save Our Water program encourages everyone to continue exercising water saving habits to get through this extended dry period and out of the drought together.  

“Californians can’t let their guard down just because we’re in the winter season. We need to make sure we enter into 2022 with water saving resolutions at the top of our list,” said Maurice Chaney, a spokesperson for Save Our Water. “It’s going to take more than a season of rain to change the conditions of our current drought, and we need to remain vigilant in our water saving efforts during this time.” 

Water is essential for our basic needs and for the survival of our communities and economy. It is important for us all to work together and be resilient as we prepare for future dry periods while actively taking steps to end the current drought. 

“Now is a great time to look at making changes to your water saving habits, especially with limited water supplies likely for 2022. Once these habits are developed, you’ll find yourself practicing water conversation daily, which is the type of persistence we need to save the state’s water supply,” said Chaney.  

As you plan to gather with family and friends for the holidays, you can do your part by implementing and sharing the following holiday water saving tips: 

1. Play your favorite holiday song that is under five minutes and try to finish your shower before the end of the song! By doing so, you could save 12.5 gallons of water per shower. 
2. Cooking for friends and family? Wash produce in a container instead of under running water.  
3. Skip the pre-rinse in the sink and load dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher, saving up to 20 gallons of water each time you wash. 
4. Make sure to run full loads of laundry as it can help save five to 15 gallons of water per load. 
5. Turn off those sprinklers when going out of town for the holidays and when it is going to rain, or install a smart controller to do the work for you! Doing this could save 12 to 15 gallons of water each time that sprinkler runs. 
6. Use a broom to clean up the yard versus a hose. When using a broom to clean outdoor areas, you are saving six gallons of water every minute. 

Saving water will help you save money and our environment. Remember that these tips can be used every day, even after the holidays, and using them throughout the entire year will be critical to conserving California’s water. Make it your New Year’s resolution to do your part to make our water last! For more water conservation resources and tips, please visit saveourwater.com.  

About Save Our Water 

Save Our Water is a statewide, water conservation program created in 2009 by the Department of Water Resources.  The program aims to make water conservation a daily habit among all Californians.