Purissima Hills Water District is one of the few agencies in California not required to implement mandatory water rationing. However, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (from whom we purchase our water) is requesting a 10% voluntary reduction.
The District's per capita water use is double that of the rest of the Bay Area. During the dry, or summer, season, the District is over its allocation by as much as 20%. Eighty percent of the total water used by District customers is for landscaping. During a drought, a 20% Hetch Hetchy system-wide reduction could result in a 40 % reduction to District customers.
Conservation, including the use of water efficient landscaping, insulates against water shortages which result in landscaping losses and penalty rates, stretches the existing supply, and lowers monthly bills. Conservation measures also demonstrate that our District is trying to do its part to save water and reduce water waste—this places us in a much better position politically to negotiate additional supplies.
Below is a list of ways for you to reduce your indoor and outdoor water use:
Indoor:
 Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth or washing dishes to save 2 to 3 gallons per minute.
Do not pre-rinse dishes before loading the dishwasher. You will save as much as 20 gallons per load, or 6,500 gallons per year.
Take shorter showers. Each minute you cut saves 2.5 gallons.
Run your washing machine and dishwasher with full loads only, even if the machine has an adjustable load setting.
Install faucet aerators or low-flow faucets in your kitchen and bathrooms.
Replace older toilets with low-flow models. They use less than half as much water as older models.
Replace your old clothes washer with a water-saving one.
Outdoor:
Check your home's water meter for system leaks. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and then check your meter. If the flow dial on your meter is moving, you have a leak in your main line, irrigation line, or toilet. We can assist you in determining whether you have a leak. (Not all irrigation leaks will show on the meter.)
Give your plants only the amount of water they need. For example, water your lawn no more than three times a week and only at night or early morning. Also, be sure to set your timers appropriately to avoid run off.
Check your irrigation system at least once every season. Broken irrigation heads can lose hundreds of gallons if left unchecked.
Use a broom to clean sidewalks, driveways, and pavement instead of using a hose.
Plant drought tolerant landscaping. This can save you up to 50% of your outdoor water use.
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