Headline: Valley Water’s free program offers Santa Clara County residents tips, resources to save water
As spring approaches, and before summer arrives, now is a great time to evaluate your home and landscape water needs.
California has a dry climate and history has shown how quickly the weather can change from wet to dry. For example, the South Bay received substantial rainfall in February 2019, while this February has been completely dry.
Because we don’t know what the future will bring, it’s important that we all continue practicing good water conservation habits to preserve our water supplies into the future.
Your lawn and garden may not be as thirsty as you think. There could be an undetected leak running up your bill – we can help you figure out whether it’s inside or outside your home. Maybe your irrigation system could use state-of-the-art equipment. We can help you figure out whether we have a rebate to help you make that change!
Valley Water is pleased to offer a two-part program, which includes a FREE Water Wise Outdoor Survey and a FREE Do-It-Yourself Water Wise Indoor Survey Kit. You can participate in either – or both.
Water Wise Outdoor Survey
Who is eligible? Most Santa Clara County single-family homes and small multi-family sites (under ½ acre) can have a trained landscape professional complete a free comprehensive evaluation of their irrigation system. You must have a working irrigation system to participate. San Jose Water Company customers should instead request a Water Audit by calling (408) 279-7900.
Why should you register? About half the water used in homes is used for landscape irrigation. By taking advantage of the Water Wise Outdoor Survey, we can help you identify problems with your irrigation system. It also provides feedback from a trained professional to help you adjust your system to achieve maximum water-use efficiency.
To schedule an outdoor survey, call (408) 630-2000 or visit www.valleywater.org/form/water-wise-survey-request-form.
Multi-family or commercial sites over ½ acre may be eligible for a Large Landscape Survey. For more information visit: www.valleywater.org/saving-water/commercial/large-landscape-surveys
Do-It-Yourself Water Wise Indoor Survey
Santa Clara County residents can obtain a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Water Wise Indoor Survey Kit, which includes step-by-step instructions for conducting a quick and easy in-home survey to identify leaky faucets and toilets, and test water flow rates. Check out our Do-It-Yourself Water Wise Indoor Survey video demonstrations and see how easy it is to conduct this in-home survey.
The booklet includes space to record your survey results and a form to request free water conservation items, such as a toilet flapper, low flow showerhead and faucet aerators. Once you install these water savers, you will see a how these little changes can make a big difference.
Request your DIY Water Wise Indoor Kit today by calling (408) 630-2554 or by visiting www.valleywater.org/form/water-wise-survey-request-form. The kit is also available in Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese.
Each DIY Kit comes with a great resource: The Practical Plumbing Handbook. It will provide you with useful information on conserving water and fixing many common problems such as leaky faucets, running toilets, and inefficient irrigation systems. Although the handbook is not intended to help you fix major plumbing issues, it will explain a few ways you can conserve water while keeping your home in tip-top condition.
Get with the program, get water wise today!
During the most recent drought we asked our community to conserve water by 20%, and they answered the call! Every year since 2013, Santa Clara County residents have reduced on average 24%.
Valley Water encourages you to continue practicing the good water-saving habits you adopted during the drought because we’ve already proved that working together, we can make a difference.
Commit today to keep saving water and make water conservation a California way of life!
Valley Water News 