The hot summer months are here and our Airport Planning & Environmental Affairs team has some ideas on how to conserve water.

Did you know that it’s the seventh driest year to date over the past 128 years? The average person uses about 130 gallons of water a day (down from 200 gallons in the past!) and while San Diego and the region have more reliable water supplies from multiple supplies, conserving water, a precious resource, is always a best practice and helps us sustain through drought periods. 

At SAN we are actively reducing our water consumption with the goal of not using drinking water for things that don’t need it (like flushing toilets). Since 2016, we’ve decreased our water use by 17 percent even though passenger volumes have increased (COVID notwithstanding).

 

So, what can YOU do to save water? Here are some suggestions below:

• Use refrigeration to thaw frozen foods, rather than running water.
• Get creative when watering your plants.
• Let your pasta water cool and reuse it to make a sauce, bread, or soup. You can also use it to fertilize/stimulate plant growth.
• Collect rainfall for irrigation—hello rain barrels!
• Water your plants in the morning or evening—it helps them retain water.
• Collect/reuse the water that falls around you in the shower to irrigate.
• Install low-flow faucets & toilets—look for the WaterSense logo when purchasing new appliances.
• Repair leaks throughout your home’s water infrastructure.
• Take shorter showers—on average, Americans take 8-minute showers…see if you can beat the time to save gallons. 
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving—bonus points for turning off the faucet while shampooing/conditioning.
• Opt for a broom instead of the hose when cleaning up.
• Xeriscape! Use native, drought-tolerant plants that need less water for your yard—we do this at SAN.
• Check out Water Smart San Diego and their Checkup!