> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cutting back on the H20 - URL: https://www.smdp.com/cutting-back-on-the-h20/ - Published: 2007-12-13T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T04:23:17.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import *‘20 Gallon Challenge’ seems to be working* CITYWIDE It looks as if residents and businesses are up to the challenge of reducing their water usage by 20 gallons a day, according to figures released by City Hall that show water consumption down considerably since July. Santa Monicans are currently using 12.45 million gallons of water a day — a 6.81 percent decrease from a month ago. In July, Santa Monica was using 15.11 million gallons, said Neal Shapiro, a water resources section supervisor and urban runoff management coordinator for City Hall. Shapiro credits increased media attention to the record dry conditions for making people more aware about their water consumption, as well as City Hall’s “20 Gallon Challenge,” a call for residents and businesses to save 20 gallons of water each day to protect Southern California against severe water shortages next summer. “It’s great that people seem to be embracing it, which is important,” Shapiro said. “If they don’t, then it could lead to mandatory reductions in the spring and summer, which is something we don’t want to do.” Shapiro said part of the drop in consumption could be because of recent rains, but the numbers clearly point to a concerted effort amongst Santa Monicans to reduce water usage. Southern California is experiencing unprecedented dry conditions. That, coupled with a recent federal court decision restricting the amount of water that can be pumped from supplies in Northern California by as much as 30 percent, are creating the potential for a shortage in 2008, said Bob Muir, with the Metropolitan Water District, which supplies Santa Monica with 90 percent of its drinking water. “We have embarked on one of the largest public outreach campaigns in history,” Muir said. “We need to get serious about conserving.” The court decision stemmed from a lawsuit brought by the natural Resources Defense Council, which sought to protect smelt in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a supply source for 25 million Californians. TURN ONS, TURN OFFS Whether you’re a homeowner, apartment dweller or a business owner, saving water is easier than you may think. Just a few changes in routine can make a big difference in your water usage, city officials contend. Oftentimes, it can be as easy as fixing that nagging leak in the kitchen, or replacing an outdated appliance or fixture. City Hall and MWD are offering several rebates for water-saving products such as new washers and toilets. Since as much as half of all water use in Santa Monica is spent on landscape irrigation and other outdoor purposes, people are being reminded to think “inside and out” to maximize water savings. Tips for saving water indoors include: Running the dishwasher only when full, turning off water while washing dishes, shaving or brushing teeth, and shortening showers. Using a toilet as a waste basket is also bad since it is estimated that 2 gallons of water are used per flush. Businesses looking to conserve should also replace old toilets and install aerators with flow restrictions on all sink faucets. When it comes to landscaping, residents are urged to water before 6 a.m. and after 10 p.m. to reduce evaporation and wind effect. People should also try watering with a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle instead of using automated sprinkler systems. Adding two to three inches of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation can also help save 20 to 30 gallons per day per 1,000 square feet. Conserving sounds simple enough, but for many people it’s out of sight, out of mind, particularly renters, who rarely pay their own water bills. Santa Monica is comprised roughly of 70 percent renters and 30 percent homeowners, creating some tall obstacles for city officials. “People are motivated to conserve, generally, by charging them more for the resource,”said Carl Lambert, president of Action Apartment Association, which represents landlords in Santa Monica. “Unfortunately, tenants do not see the water bill. They only know that it comes out of a faucet.” While the Santa Monica Rent Control Board takes into account increases in utilities when calculating rent increases every year, Lambert said it would be better if landlords could charge a small fee for water and give tenants a discount when they conserve a certain number of gallons. “It’s not enough to just add it to the rent,” he said. “Tenants need to see there is a cost and see how much water they are actually using from month to month.” Bruce Kelly, a Santa Monica renter, said he tries to conserve where he can by taking shorter showers and turning off the water when he scrubs dishes, but he believes landlords could do more by installing new toilets and shower heads. “I think we all could be doing more,” Kelly said. “It’s good that water use is down, but I think there’s still a lot more that needs to be done to protect us and future generations from drought.” *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 13, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)