Conservation Tips

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Need to pay your water bill, or start/stop a water or sewer service? Visit the Fairfield Municipal Utilities page.

Historically, California is no stranger to drought. But in the past years, droughts are becoming more common than they have been. While residential water use does not significantly contribute to greater water usage, it's still important for all Californians to do their part and conserve. Not sure what you can do to save water? Read the below sections for easy tips to save water in and outside your home:

The Garden

Adjust sprinkler heads and fix outdoor leaks: Saves 12-15 gallons each time you water & a leak about as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month!

Drought Resistant trees and plants: Saves 30-60 gallons per 1000 sq.ft. each time.

Install drip irrigation and a smart controllers: Saves 15 gallons each time you water & saves 24+ gallons per day.

Reimagine your yard: Feed your vegetables & fruits water first because they feed you! Water-wise plants and shade trees use little or no water once established. Thirsty plants such as lawn and container plants are the lowest priority. If you have to cut back, start here.

Maintaining your lawn:

Set mower blades to 3”: Taller grass shades roots and holds soil moisture better than short grass, and saves 16-50 gallons per day.
If walking across the lawn leaves footprints (blades don’t spring back up), then it is time to water.
Let your lawn go dormant (brown) during the winter. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three to four weeks, less if it rains.
Remember to weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light and water.
While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
Water your summer lawns once every three days and your winter lawn once every five days.
Water dry spot by hand instead of running the whole irrigation system longer.

Use a broom to clean outdoor areas: Saves 8-18 gallons/minute.

Consider using mulch in your garden: Saves 20-30 gallons per 1000 sq.ft. each time you water.

What should I plant?: Check with your local water agency and if you can water at least two times a week, you can plant water-wise plants and shade trees. This is not the time to install new lawn or thirsty, non-California friendly plants.

Water your landscape between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

Use a nozzle on your hose to control the flow.

Replace your lawn with water-efficient landscaping.

Don't over water your lawn! Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Signs of overwatering: Leaves turn lighter shades of green or yellow, young shoots wilt, and sometimes algae or fungi grow.

The Bathroom

You can install conservation tools in your bathroom! You can install high efficiency toilets, faucet aerators, and water smart shower heads. You can save gallons of water everyday.

Shorten your showers: 5 minute showers can save hundreds of gallons of water every month.

Bath time? Make sure to plug the tub before starting the water.

Turn off the sink when brushing teeth or shaving: Saves 10 gallons per person per day.

Check for leaks: Check your toilets and faucets for running water - bathroom leaks can be trickier to notice than any other leaks.

The Kitchen

Recycle indoor water and use for plants: That half cup of water that's been out all day? Instead of dumping it down the sink, use it to water your indoor plants.

Wash full loads of dishes: Dishwashers save 5-15 gallons per load. When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water. Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand.

Fix leaks: Saves 110g each month.

Install faucet aerators: Saves 1.2 gallons per person per day.

Don't let the water run! If you need to heat up water from the sink or wash your produce, use a basin to collect water and reuse that water for soaking dirty pots or pans, or for watering your houseplants.

The Laundry Area

Wash full loads of clothes and dishes: Washer: saves 15-45 gallons per load. When washing dark clothes, use cold water to save water, energy, and help your clothes retain their color.

Install a High-efficiency Washer: The Solano County Water Agency (SCWA) is offering a rebate for the purchase and installation of a qualifying EnergyStar Most Efficient labeled high-efficiency clothes washer. Some washers can save up to 20 gallons.

Rebate Programs

In conjunction with Solano County Water Agency (SCWA), Fairfield offers rebates for the installation of water-saving equipment and plant materials. Visit the rebates section of www.scwa2.com to see the full details for each program. To be eligible for any rebate, you must contact SCWA before starting any rebate program to be eligible. Example rebate programs include:

Water-Conserving Products
The Solano High-Efficiency Washer Rebate
Smart Irrigation Controller Rebates
Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate
Solano County Residential Water Surveys

To be eligible for any rebate, you must contact SCWA before starting any rebate program. To see all of the qualifying rebates or to apply, please go to https://www.scwa2.com/water-efficiency/rebates-programs/ or call 707-454-9936.

Conservation Resources

State Waterboards - Find indoor and outdoor water conservation tips, conservation initiatives, and more information.

Save Our Water - The program’s goal is to make water conservation a daily habit among Californians. You can take a Water-Wise Quiz to see how much you know about conservation!

Solano County Water Agency - SCWA is the wholesale water agency for the jurisdictions located within Solano County. Check out their website for flood control information, residential and commercial rebates, real-time water source monitoring, and more.

Do you live in an HOA? Have any concerns for regulations during the drought? The State Water Resources Control Board put out a fact sheet of prohibitions for HOAs when the state isn't in a drought and when it is.

Our Water Poster

*Disclaimer: The above image shows the Solano County Water Agency member jurisdictions (Cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo). Each City has varying ways of how their water utilities treat and distribute water. The City of Fairfield currently does not have the infrastructure to support recycled or gray water use or collection.