It's a good time to save water- even when it rains

The California Department of Water Resources reported on Sept. 30 that the state's precipitation rate in 2007 was at 60 percent of the average, water runoff was at half of the average, and by May 1 snowpack was at about 25 percent of average. What this means for residents of Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Newbury Park is that the water supply available to them in 2008 and beyond could be severely curtailed. The best way to prepare for this is to adopt wise water use habits now that will save water, save money and reduce the "shock" that could be associated with future cutbacks.

California American Water suggests a number of simple things residents can do to ensure that Ventura County remains a hospitable location for them to live and work. The company, with a local office in Newbury Park, provides water and/or wastewater services to more than 600,000 people in 50 communities across the state.

Outdoors

•Water the lawn during the coolest part of the day to reduce evaporation.

•Use a broom instead of a hose to clean paved areas such as sidewalks and driveways.

•Check sprinkler settings and adjust for seasonal weather conditions.

•Use a low-flow nozzle to wash your car. Using a standard hose to wash your vehicle can waste 300 gallons of water.

•Keep unused pools and spas covered with a solar or other safety-type pool cover to save energy and prevent water evaporation.

•Consider landscaping with drought tolerant native plants.

Indoors

•Take quick showers instead of baths and install a lowflow showerhead.

•Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or washing dishes. Consider installing highefficiency aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets.

•Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full and use water saver cycles whenever possible.

•Regularly check the toilet, faucet and pipes for leaks and have any necessary repairs done as soon as possible.

•Consider purchasing an ultralowflush toilet or highefficiency clothes washer.