This document provides 10 tips to save water at home by taking actions like turning off the faucet while brushing teeth (2 gallons per day), taking shorter showers (2.5 gallons per minute), and fixing leaks (15-20 gallons per day for faucets, 30-50 gallons per day for toilets). It estimates that following these tips could save over 20 gallons of water per person each day.

1. Here are 10 easy ways to Admiral Splash says...
save 20 gallons or more per
person, each and every day! TAKE THE 20-GALLON AHOY THERE!
My Name is Admiral Splash.
CHALLENGE For 25 years, I have been helping young
Yes, Admiral – I will take the challenge! I am ESTIMATED
GALLONS
students and their families learn about
checking the water-saving actions I will take,
and ones that I will ask my family to take, too. SAVED water in Southern California and how
we can use water wisely. Now, it is more
1. I will always turn off the water while
brushing my teeth.
2 gallons
per minute important than ever.
Please tell everyone that the Admiral says,
“It’s Time to Get Serious About Saving WATER!”
2. I will take a shorter shower, just 3 – 5
minutes.
2.5 gallons
per minute
Read on to find out how you can use water wisely
inside and outside your home.
3. I never flush tissues or other trash
down the toilet. I use the wastebasket
2 gallons
per flush
instead.
THE ADMIRAL SPLASH 4. I will run the dishwasher only when
it is full.
2.5 gallons
per load
WATER-SAVER
PLEDGE 5. I will turn off the faucet between
rinsing dishes.
2.5 gallons
per minute
• I know that Southern
California has to get
serious about saving
water.
6. We will fix any leaking faucets or
toilets.
15-20 gallons
per faucet; 30-50
gallons per toilet
• I pledge to do my part
by saving water at
home. 7. I will use a broom instead of a hose
to clean driveways and sidewalks.
Up to
20 gallons
per minute
• I pledge to take the
actions I have checked,
and to ask my other 8. I will keep water from running down
the street when washing the car, and
20 gallons
per minute
family members to do when irrigating the yard.
the same.
• I will put this page in
a place where it will 9. We will water our landscape early
in the morning when it is cooler and
20-25 gallons
per day
remind me to save there is less wind. © 2007, Metropolitan Water District
of Southern California
water every day.
10. We will not over-water. We’re reduc-
ing irrigation by 1-3 minutes per cycle,
15-20 gallons
per minute; up
to 250 gallons
HOME USE WATER SURVEY
Signature or one cycle per week. per cycle

2. IT’S TIME TO
GET SERIOUS ADMIRAL SPLASH’S HOME WATER USE SURVEY
ABOUT SAVING Check the items that show how your family uses water wisely.
WATER
California’s main water
THE BATHROOM
1. Our toilet doesn’t leak.
6. Our bathroom faucets and
pipes do not leak.
13. We keep a container
of drinking water in the
refrigerator.
19. We don’t water the gutter.
Position your sprinklers so
the water lands on your lawn
Put a few drops of food color- 7. We have installed water- Running tap water to cool it for
sources have been severely or garden, not on concrete or
ing in your toilet tank. If the saving shower heads or
drinking wastes water. other paved areas. Also, avoid
impacted by record dry coloring begins to appear in the flow restrictors.
watering on windy days.
conditions. And we’re al- bowl without flushing, you have Run your shower into a bucket 14. When we wash dishes by
ready using our reserves to a wasteful leak that should be for 30 seconds. If more than hand, we don’t leave the 20. We’ve made our
repaired at once. 1 ½ gallons (6 quarts) of water running for rinsing. landscape California
supply our everyday water. water are in the bucket, you
If you have two sinks, fill one Friendly® with trees
Our water situation is serious. 2. We don’t use our toilet as need a flow restrictor. Your and plants naturally
with rinse water. If you have
a wastebasket. hardware or plumbing supply suited to our climate. bewaterwise.com
But you can help. only one sink, put your washed
store stocks inexpensive, easy to
Flushing a used facial tissue dishes in a dish rack and rinse Many beautiful trees
There are lots of ways to use install shower heads and flow
down the toilet wastes about them quickly with a spray and plants thrive with little
restrictors that still give you
less water. Use this survey to 2 gallons of water. device or pan of water. water in our semiarid region.
cleansing, refreshing showers.
check how carefully water If you had 20 checks or
3. We have a toilet that uses 15. Our kitchen and laundry 21. We put a layer of mulch
is used in and outside your only 1.6 gallons of water 8. We take baths with
room faucets and pipes do around trees and plants. more (12 if you don’t
shallow water.
household. or less. not leak. Mulch slows the evaporation have a yard), your family
All toilets sold after 1992 are A partially filled tub uses less
On the back page, take the of moisture. is well on its way to
water than all but the shortest
required to use no more than
showers.
OUTSIDE
Admiral Splash Water-Saver 1.6 gallons per flush. New high- 22. We use a broom instead being “ship shape” with
Pledge. Check the actions efficiency toilets operate very well 16. We water the lawn only of a hose to clean drive- regard to water. I hope
with even less water. If you have 9. We turn off the water when it needs it.
you take to make saving ways and sidewalks. you’ll put many of these
an older toilet, you may save while brushing our teeth.
Step on your grass. If it springs
water a serious part of your from 2 to 4 gallons per flush by Before brushing, wet your 23. We don’t let the hose run water-saving ideas to
back when you lift your foot,
everyday life. replacing it with a new model. brush and fill a glass of water it doesn’t need water. Check while washing the car. work in your home. If
You may also be eligible for an for rinsing your mouth. bewaterwise.com for tips on Soap down your car from a you do, your family can
Check www.bewaterwise. incentive to lower the cost of that watering and plants. If you have pail of soapy water. Use a save thousands of gallons
com for more easy ways to new toilet – check www.bewater- an irrigation system, upgrade hose only to rinse it off.
wise.com for more information.
KITCHEN & LAUNDRY of water a year.
use less water. to a Smart Controller that auto-
10. We use the automatic matically adjusts the amount 24. The children do not
4. We take quick showers. dishwasher only for full of water for weather conditions. play with the hose and
Limit your showers to the time loads. sprinklers.
It uses less water than wash- 17. We water during the cool
For information
it takes to soap up, wash down,
and rinse off—3 to 5 minutes. ing by hand. part of the day. 25. We have no leaks in on how to save
Also, when waiting for the water pipes, hoses, faucets, and water, contact:
Early morning is better than
to warm up, catch the cold water 11. We use the automatic couplings.
dusk, since it helps prevent the
in a bucket; use it to flush the washing machine only for Leaks outside the house can be Metropolitan Water District
growth of fungus.
toilet or help water the yard. full loads of laundry. extremely wasteful. To check of Southern California
for hidden leaks in your pipes, Post Office Box 54153
12. We don’t let the faucet 18. We deep soak our lawn. Los Angeles, CA 90054-0153
5. The adults in our family make sure no water is being
run to clean vegetables. When you water your lawn,
turn off the water while used around the house and
shaving. Rinse vegetables in a sink water it long enough for the watch the water meter for or visit our
partially filled with water. water to seep down to the roots 15 minutes. If the meter shows websites at:
Fill the sink with a few inches of where it is needed. A light sprin-
water in which to rinse your razor. some movement during that
kling, which sits on the surface, time, you have a leak. www.bewaterwise.com
will evaporate and be wasted.
www.bewaterwise.com www.mwdh2o.com