With drought warnings and fires plaguing the state, right now seems like the perfect time to begin the “Santa Barbara Countywide 20-Gallon Challenge.”
Beginning this month, the Santa Barbara County Water Agency is teaming up with cities and special districts throughout the county to challenge residents to reduce their normal water-use levels by 20 gallons a day.
Some suggested ways to save water include using two to three inches of mulch on landscaped areas, saving about 25 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet of landscaping; sweeping driveways instead of hosing them down, saving 11 gallons of water; and fixing toilet leaks, saving up to 30 gallons of water a day.
For more information on the 20-Gallon Challenge, visit www.sbwater.org.
This article appears in Jul 10-17, 2008.