How to Make a Big Impact with Aerators

Delta Faucet Aerator

At Waterless Co, Inc, we focus on helping our customers reduce water consumption and use water more efficiently. One of the best ways to do this — other than installing no-water urinals — is to install aerators in kitchen and restroom faucets.

At the end of each of these faucets is a screen. Its purpose is to add air to the water as it streams out of the tap. It does little to reduce water consumption. What does, however, is removing that screen and installing an aerator.

With an aerator installed, facility managers and homeowners can realize the following benefits:

• A significant reduction in water use. Aerators vary in capabilities, but at least a 50 percent reduction in water use should be realized. (See Quick Facts below.)

• Over time, the stream of water starts to come out of the sides of the faucet. This results in water inefficiency, meaning water is wasted. Installing an aerator can prevent this, using water more efficiently.

• Minimize the splashing of water as it hits your hands or the sink. Once again, this is water inefficiency.

• Often debris collects in pipes and is released into the water. Aerators have a more advanced screen that catches and prevents this debris from being released.

When to Clean Aerators

Many building managers and homeowners believe once the aerator is installed — that’s it. It needs no servicing. For the most part, that’s true. They rarely need any servicing. Nonetheless, aerators should be unscrewed and cleaned at least twice yearly, if not more.

However, incidents could cause managers and homeowners to remove, clean, and reinstall the aerators more often. For instance, in 2021, the state of Michigan discovered that small particulates of plastic had found their way into the water delivered to consumers. This was due to an aging infrastructure.

In another incident, communities that experienced severe wildfires or flooding have reported sediment collected in their water. If something similar happens in your community, removing and cleaning the aerators is recommended. Dirt, particulates, and debris get trapped in the aerator, diminishing the amount of water it releases.

Aerators should also be removed and cleaned in those areas of the country that have hardwater.  Hardwater is found in about 85 percent of the U.S.  The problem with hardwater is that the hardwater contains minerals that can eventually clog the aerator.  You’ll notice this happening     as the flow of water from the faucet starts to slow.

Further, if there has been a water main break in your neighborhood or construction has been performed in your facility. During construction, dirt and particulates can get into pipes and get stuck in the aerators. Once again, this will diminish the amount of water the aerator releases.

How to Clean Aerators

The first step in cleaning aerators is knowing how to take them off. Most are hand-screwed onto the tap and can be easily removed.

Sometimes they require pliers to remove them. Be sure and wrap a small towel or rag around the pliers so as not to scratch the metal surface.

Other aerators are preinstalled on the faucet. In these cases, a small aerator key, which comes with the faucet, will be necessary to remove the aerator.

Once the aerators have been removed, soak them in vinegar for about five minutes. Please do not use a traditional cleaning solution, as it might damage or discolor the metal.

A small brush — such as an old toothbrush — may be necessary to remove debris that is collected on the screen. Remove the debris and soak the aerator again in vinegar for about five minutes.

Once these steps have been completed, reinstall the aerator.

Quick Facts About Aerators

Before you go, here are a few quick facts about aerators you should know:

·       They are very inexpensive.

·       As mentioned, they can vary in their ability to reduce water flow; due diligence is needed to select the aerator that best meets their needs.

·       With more advanced aerators, you should not notice a significant difference in the water flow.

·       And even if you do, remember that one aerator can save as much as 250 gallons of water per month — a major savings.

Waterless Co., Inc is a pioneer in water efficiency. We are the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently. For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist.

Helping Seniors Adjust to Water Shortages

When discussing water shortages and droughts, the conversation typically centers around the water restrictions imposed on citizens and businesses.

While most people can comply with these requests fairly easily, some people, particularly seniors in care facilities, often find adjusting to these water restrictions difficult. 

Here are three ways administrators of senior care centers can help:

Education

Education is a crucial factor in raising awareness and motivating action among seniors who may be reluctant to change their water consumption habits. They usually think that water shortages are temporary and will soon be resolved by natural rainfall cycles. 

However, this is only sometimes the case, as evidenced by the recent history of California, where a severe drought lasted from 2014 to 2018. 

Plus, with the planet getting warmer, it means more areas of the world will experience water shortages.

That is why some experts warn that water shortages and drought conditions could be the new normal for many regions of the world. Therefore, administrators must inform seniors in their care about the reality and urgency of conserving water and using it more efficiently. 

Faith

To help seniors feel less pressured about saving water, we need to show them that the facility is also taking steps to reduce its own water consumption. One way to do this is to tell them about the modern technologies that can help everyone in the facility conserve water. 

Some of these technologies are simple. For example, a showerhead uses about four gallons of water per minute. Adding an aerator reduces this to 2.5 gallons per minute or less.

Other technologies are a bit more involved, such as switching from conventional toilets to high-performance toilets that use less water than the federal standard. Waterless or no-water urinals are another option. Waterless urinals use no water at all and save millions of gallons of water each year.

Realization

Finally, administrators must recognize that droughts can take a severe toll on a seniors' mental health. While the two steps just mentioned can help ease the situation, much more may be necessary. Mental health facilities and resources must be available to those impacted by drought. 

Mood disorders caused by droughts can and have driven physical illness. This should not happen. Mental health care workers can help prevent this.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

Maybe All We Need Is a Sign to Reduce Water Consumption

Many industrial facilities in the U.S. are in non-urban areas. These facilities usually have grassy areas to improve their look and offer employees a space to relax, eat, or meet outside.

These grassy areas must be watered regularly by either an automated system or a lawn service. Local rules limiting watering to certain days or times are followed. These rules are currently in place in about thirty states.

However, more than these restrictions may be needed to reduce water consumption.

A lawn typically needs about one inch of water per week. To give you an idea of how much water this is, a tiny lawn, say one hundred square feet, requires approximately sixty-two gallons of water each week. 

The water consumption of lawns in the U.S. is a major environmental concern. A typical lawn of 2,500 square feet requires 155,000 gallons of water every week, or more than eight million gallons per year.

What we are finding is that the current water restrictions based on specific days and times are not proving effective enough in reducing this amount of water.

To address this problem, researchers from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) designed and implemented a pilot program called "The Rain-Watered Lawn.”

The aim of this program was to test whether water conservation strategies based on weather conditions were more efficient than the existing water restrictions.

The researchers conducted a test with 627 households split into two groups: 321 households in the experimental group and 306 in the control group. The control group followed the existing water restrictions but did not make any other changes.

In addition, the researchers did a simple intervention in the experimental neighborhoods. They put up road signs that would update regularly, showing how much rain had fallen in the last seven days, reminding homeowners that most Florida lawns only needed to be watered about once a week. 

These signs would also have this message at the bottom:

"Is rainfall alone meeting the water needs of your lawn?"

This got homeowners questioning if they really needed to water their lawn.

After a few weeks, the researchers collected the data. They discovered that during the summer months, when this region of Florida had the highest water demand, the experimental group - with the signs posted in their neighborhood - reduced their lawn watering by an impressive 61 percent from the beginning, saving millions of gallons of water per week.

The control group did not show any significant changes in their water use.

Moreover, the experimental group maintained a 41 percent lower water use than the control group throughout the study period. This suggested that they had adopted a water conservation habit.

The Bigger Picture

The researchers suggested that their findings have more significant ramifications than might initially be realized.

"This program has the added benefit of getting people more in tune with the natural water cycle, which might help [water users] prepare for changes in water supply and water policy," said Ata Sarajedini, Ph.D., dean of FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.

Does this mean we could post similar signs in, for instance, the restrooms of industrial facilities - typically where the second largest amount of water is consumed – updating them on water conditions and urging them to use water more efficiently?

The researchers believe the answer is yes. They say the signs created "a greater sense of environmental stewardship that could be tied to everyday activities," which could help reduce water consumption in industrial restrooms and throughout the facility, potentially reducing water consumption.

Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

Earth Just Had Its Warmest July on Record - Impact on Water

The Rundown

According to The Wall Street Journal, July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded, with unprecedented heatwaves and fires reported in North America, Europe, and Asia.  

The Middle East suffered from water shortages, while Greece and China experienced record-breaking heatwaves and floods.  

The United States saw over 3,000 daily temperature records broken, with rising heat-related deaths. 

U.S. States Most Impacted

Record-breaking heat was reported in Arizona, Texas, Florida, parts of California, and New Mexico.  

Heat-Related Deaths

There were 1,200 heat-related deaths between 2018 and 2022 in the U.S. However, the Journal reports that this has been "massively underestimated, and the real number is closer to 10,000." 

Europe had more than 61,000 heat-related deaths between the end of May 2022 and September 2022. 

Heat and Water Demand

Longer and more intense heat waves increase the demand for water from humans, animals, plants, and farmers. Heat also increases evaporation, worsening droughts and drying out soil, leading to more intense heat. Increased water demand puts additional stress on water supplies worldwide, especially in the U.S. 

Heat and Water Issues Around the World 

Iran/Iraq: Taps are running dry in Tehran, Iran, and neighboring Iraq. In both cases, they have exploited underground water, making them even more dependent on rainfall that is not materializing.  

China: China struggles to manage water supplies due to flooding and rising temperatures. It is considered the most vulnerable to climate risk among the world's largest economies, according to Scott Moore, a University of Pennsylvania political scientist and director of China programs and strategic initiatives at the university. 

Alaska: Parts of Alaska experienced temperatures as high as 66 degrees this summer, higher than the usual 40 to 50 degrees. While water shortages have not been an issue, the alarming fact is that Alaska is warming at least twice as fast as the rest of the world, according to Brian Brettschneider, a National Weather Service (Alaska) climate scientist.

New York City: Summer temperatures in New York are eight degrees hotter than before, placing greater demand on water for people and air conditioning systems. Most A/C systems pump warm air out of a building, releasing it outside. This is exacerbating the heat problem in the city.

Solutions

Water conservation can address immediate water shortages, but long-term conservation won't solve the growing heat problem and its impact on water.  

Water efficiency is the only solution achieved by reducing water consumption long-term through updated mechanicals and new restroom fixtures in commercial and residential spaces.

The example typically used is the installation of no-water urinals which save millions of gallons of water per year. However, there are many other ways to use water more efficiently in agriculture, industry, commercial facilities, schools, and hospitals.

Waiting to take these steps in the future is too late. We need to take these steps now.

 Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues. He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

 Sources:

WSF article published August 8, 2023

All data in the Journal report was provided by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, funded by the European Union.

Why Ships Need a Water Audit

On land, one of the most effective ways to reduce water consumption is to conduct a "water audit." This involves analyzing a building's water use, discovering where potential water savings are possible, and implementing a cost-effective plan to turn those water savings into reality.

Typically, a water audit involves:

• Identifying where water is brought into a facility (looking for leaks before water is delivered)

• Location of all water-using fixtures and systems, as well as drainage systems

• Gathering two years of water utility bills, checking them, not necessarily for charges, but for water usage, to establish a benchmark.

• Evaluating water use fluctuations, a spike could indicate a leak somewhere in the water infrastructure.

• Conduct a walk-through of the entire ship with plumbing plans in hand. The goal is to locate all the facility's pipes, fixtures, and other water-delivering or water-removing systems.

• Evaluating how and when vegetation is irrigated if the facility is landscaped.

• Inspection of restroom fixtures; this is crucial because, in most facilities, this is where the most significant amounts of water are used (except if the facility is landscaped)

The goal of all these steps is to:

·       Find leaks.

·       Determine if water is no longer needed in specific areas.

·       Where water is being wasted

·       In the case of restrooms, if new fixtures can be installed that use less water or use no water at all.

Water audits are not necessarily new. However, with drought and water shortages, as well as the increased cost of water around the globe, they are used far more frequently today than ever before. 

Should You Conduct a Water Audit?

As a maritime operator there are several reasons why you should conduct a water audit.

Firstly, water is heavy, with one gallon weighing just over eight pounds. If your vessel carries five hundred gallons of water, that's over 4,000 pounds of added weight, resulting in increased fuel consumption. A water audit can help reduce this weight, cutting fuel costs. 

Additionally:  

·       Using less fuel means you'll spend less on fuel.  

·       More cost savings because the cost of water will be reduced.  

·       Reducing blackwater (heavier water waste) pumping costs.   

·       Help your business become more sustainability focused.  

·       Lastly, have more space on board for other purposes. 

Water Audits and Plumbing Maps

Before conducting a thorough examination, we must obtain a plumbing map of the entire vessel that shows the locations of all pipes, fixtures, and water outlets. This will ensure that we cover all areas and do not miss any potential leaks.   

We should specifically check all water-carrying piping materials, fittings, joints, connections, drinking water fixtures, and water pumps for any signs of leakage.

Additionally, we must identify areas where water usage can be reduced or is no longer necessary. It is common to find this in industrial facilities and even larger, older vessels.  

We should also be aware of the role of evaporation in water waste. While this can vary based on vessel age, humidity, air velocity, and temperature, it can lead to significant water loss. Minimizing or eliminating evaporation can help ensure water is used for its intended purpose and not lost to vapor.

Water Efficiency

What we are talking about here is water efficiency. This involves reducing water usage permanently. Buildings implement various measures to achieve this, which can also benefit smaller vessels.

A perfect example is the installation of no-water or waterless urinals.

No water is required for operation with waterless urinals, reducing installation costs. On land, each urinal can save up to 35,000 gallons of water per year. Similar savings can be expected at sea.

Maintenance costs are also reduced due to reduced drain line encrustations. And less water usage results in a more hygienic environment, as bacteria and pathogens require moisture to grow and develop.

Hopefully, we have made the case for conducting a water audit for sea vessels— with the key benefits of saving water and fuel costs.

Further, we must recognize the sustainability movement happening around the world. Like every other industry, the shipping industry, even small ships, will be expected to do their part, and one way to accomplish this is by conducting a water audit.

 Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, pioneers in advancing water efficiency.  Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.  He can be reached at klaus@waterless.com

Ask Us How

The Climate Change/Water Connection

Is there a connection between climate change and water? There certainly is.

As this is being written, devastating rains have caused catastrophic flooding in Vermont. Due to the rain, some small creeks and rivers have turned into raging rivers. Business and commerce have virtually come to a standstill, as have the lives of thousands of people.

What makes the situation even worse is that when the rains began, there was no warning to indicate how bad the situation would get. Most people in the state initially perceived it as just another typical summer rainfall event.

 But according to a July 11, 2023, report in the New York Times, this type of “catastrophic flooding can increasingly happen anywhere, with almost no warning. [Further, the] United States is nowhere near ready for the threat.

The idea that anywhere it can rain, it can flood is not new. But rising temperatures worsen the problem: They allow the air to hold more moisture, leading to more intense and sudden rainfall, seemingly out of nowhere. And the implications of that shift are enormous.”

Without question, this is one of the impacts of climate change. However, while climate change produces “intense bursts” of precipitation, that does not mean water is now abundant everywhere.

According to the United Nations, the number of areas worldwide experiencing drought conditions has increased by 30 percent since the year 2000. As a result, available freshwater worldwide has fallen 22 percent in this century alone.

The study estimates that two-thirds of the global population live in areas of severe water scarcity at least one month of the year, and about half a billion people live with water scarcity continuously.

So how are countries around the world addressing this? 

What most are doing, including in our own country, is pumping water from underground aquifers. However, while we readily extract this water, we are not – nor is Mother Nature – putting much back in. To see what happens when we take out more water from aquifers than we restore, we need to look no further than Mexico City.

In large parts of this city of nearly 10 million people, the ground level is sinking by half a meter (about 20 inches) annually because the aquifers are drying up. This is happening in the US as well. In parts of San Joaquin Valley in California, land levels have been sinking a startling one foot each year. 

According to BBC journalist and author Tim Smedley, who recently visited Arizona, “huge earth fissures are appearing, several inches deep and up to one kilometer (more than half a mile) long.” Smedley states this is happening because the state is pumping so much water out of the ground.

So what can we do about this? Is, for instance, desalination the answer? 

 We’ll explore desalination in greater detail in an upcoming blog post. However, what we can say here is that desalination is an answer but not always the solution to our water-related challenges. 

There is only one thing we can do, which is true today and will be valid in decades to come. We must use water more efficiently. 

Water efficiency refers to the long-term reduction in water consumption. The perfect example is the transition from water-using to no-water urinals. Water is not needed to flush urinals, and because of this, these no-water urinals can save 35,000 gallons of water – or more – per year. 

This is how we use water efficiently. Using water efficiently means finding ways that reduce water consumption in the long term. Such changes should help us decrease the amount of underground water we pump out of the earth, keep land levels from sinking, allow us to restore aquifers, and make us more water resilient in years to come.

Waterless Co., Inc is a pioneer in water efficiency. We are the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently. For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist.

Why is it so hard to find a place to pee?

Amsterdam Red Light District

Preparing for his first trip overseas, the parents of a young man added two packs of toilet paper to the young fella’s luggage. When he asked why, he was told that in Europe and many other countries around the world, toilet paper was in short supply or simply not available.

This is certainly true in parts of India, China, Singapore, and Korea. Further, in some countries, for instance, France, bidets are installed in homes and hotels. Toilet paper may be nowhere to be found.

However, it turns out toilets and toilet paper were not a problem for this traveling chap. Finding a place to urinate was the big issue.

Several travel writers have also run into the problem. As a result, they now offer some suggestions as to where to urinate when traveling to different cities and countries around the world:

Amsterdam - Very Practical.

This city began installing public, open-air urinals about one hundred years ago, thanks to Amsterdam's famous redlight district. Initially, it helped prevent gentlemen from urinating in this part of town, but soon men asked for them to be installed all over the city - and city administrators answered the call. Today, they are considered very practical and are located all over town.

Paris – High Tech to Go.

When it comes to public outdoor urinals, the most high-tech and certainly the most sanitary are those installed in the City of Lights – Paris. They are disinfected after every use and are designed to indeed be a rest stop. Gentlemen can comfortably stay in these restrooms for twenty minutes. After that, the urinal lets you know it's time to go – I mean, leave the restroom.

London – Old but Friendly.

London's first public restroom was installed in February 1852, and some included not one but two toilets, one for men and one for women, separated by a wall. Essentially, these became some of the first unisex restrooms in the world. People were so happy to have them that friendships often developed - in the restroom. Londoners say it's one reason London is one of the friendliest big cities in the world.

India and China –Yucky.

India and China are huge countries, and public restrooms in Beijing, China, and Delhi may be much cleaner and healthier than those in other parts of the country.

But the big problem with urinals in India and China is that they are so old, often made with brick tiles. Over the years, the bricks have absorbed millions of gallons of urine. Ridding them of the yucky urine smell is impossible. Yet they remain, used by millions of men daily.

German and Japan – Please sit.

In some countries, urinating while standing is considered rude and undignified. Restrooms in these countries may even have signs encouraging men to take a seat and not stand.  For the most part, German and Japanese men are very accepting of this practice. Like people all over the Western world, they are glued to their phones. Sitting allows them to not need to fiddle with their phones when relieving themselves.

The United States – No, No, No

Only a few U.S. cities have public, open-air urinals. In most of this country, you're on your own, and must look for a secluded alley or find a large trashcan.

However, beware. Some areas of the country are strict about this. Public urination is illegal in every state, but enforcement varies considerably. If caught in some localities, expect to pay a hefty fine – even jail time for a repeat offender.  

Apps to the Rescue

While it was a clever idea for the young man to pack toilet paper before traveling, what might prove to be an even better idea was to know where public urinals or restrooms are in every city he visited. And now he can.

Apps have been developed listing public restrooms available in some cities, including here in the U.S. Reliving yourself just got safer, easier, and you won't break the law.

Waterless Co., Inc is a pioneer in water efficiency. We are the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently.  For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist. 

Using a Little Therapy to Save Water

Typically, our blogs focus on ways commercial facilities can save water. However, with more than half of our water being used in residential settings, we must also discuss ways to reduce water consumption at home.

We are talking about something other than the usual ways, such as taking faster showers. Instead, we are discussing therapy, specifically how to use a little therapy to help us use less water at home.

Shawn Burn is a psychologist on the staff at Cal Poly University based in Luis Obispo, California. Based on several articles she has written, here are some of her – and our – water therapy suggestions.

Talk. In therapy, everything starts with talk – discussions, in this case, about reducing water consumption. If you have a family or housemates start by saying, "We need to cut back on our water consumption. If we can cut back by just twenty percent, our water bill will go down enough that we will have enough money to buy everyone a treat on Friday night."

That is the positive approach. One that is less positive, especially if you are experiencing drought conditions, is the following: "Here's our situation. If we do not cut back on water by twenty percent, we will face water rationing. That means we'll have even less water than if we voluntarily cut back now."

Whichever method is used, the next step is to ask your family or housemates what ways they think we can cut back on the water. This gets everyone involved.

Commitments. Once, I walked into an open house for a house for sale and noticed something in one of the girls' bathrooms that caught my eye. It said: "I will not go out on dates unless I tell my parents." Below the words, the young girl signed it, as did her parents.

This is a pledge, a family commitment. Something like this can also be used in families and among housemates. We all need to pledge that we will use less water and use it more efficiently.

Messaging. This works well in all types of commercial facilities. We have all seen those signs in restaurant restrooms that say, "Employees must wash their hands before going back to work." They are placed in restaurants because they work. Placing messages like, "Turn off the water when brushing teeth," can prove just as effective. Just keep messages polite. That makes them attention-grabbing but does not upset anyone.

Charges. Building administrators invariably check their water bills to see if charges have gone up or down. The same is needed in households. It is time to celebrate if the monthly bill has gone down ten or twenty percent. But if charges have stayed the same or even gone up, we have work to do, which leads us to the next suggestion.

Investigation. When did your family or housemates last go around the house looking for water leaks? For most of us, the answer is never. We never look for them; they usually find us when we see a dripping faucet.

The EPA says one leaky faucet can waste as much as 10,000 gallons of water annually. This adds about ten percent to your annual water charge. We need to keep our eyes out for water leaks.

Retrofit. There is one more suggestion, which can save vast amounts of water. If you own your own residence, it's time to install a home waterless urinal. In commercial facilities, they have been proven to save hundreds, if not thousands, of gallons of water per month. And if you have boys in the house and are married, your wife is likely to say she could never live again without one.

Waterless Co., Inc is a pioneer in water efficiency. We are the go-to company when it comes to reducing water consumption, understanding the many benefits of waterless urinals, and finding ways to use water more efficiently.  For more information, contact a Waterless Co Specialist.  

Thoughts and Perspectives from Waterless Co., Inc.

From time to time, we like to share the views of respected leaders in the water industry. In this post, we share the observations of Adán Ortega, the chair of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. His comments on water have value for all of us in California and around the country.  Below is the gist of some of his recent comments about water:

Is Water Taken for Granted in this Country? What is the Best Water to Drink?

I would argue that people do not take it for granted as much as they think they do. As to the best water to drink, one of the paradoxes of being in this arena is that our number one cost is assuring safe drinking water [with new] filtration systems and by meeting new quality control standards.

Yet, no matter how much we invest, a sizable percentage of the public distrusts tap water and prefers bottled water, or they buy water in vending machines. But when you use water out of the tap, it costs about a third of a penny compared to purchasing water. When you go to a vending machine or buy water out of a bottle, it can cost as much as $1 a gallon — for the same water from the same source.

 And we must add that bottled water and water from vending machines is not as regulated as tap water. But because the water industry keeps revising standards, it gives the public the impression that water out of the tap is unsafe. The water industry has not done a respectable job of overcoming these misconceptions. One of my goals in the next two to four years is to make sure our residents know their tap water is safe and healthy.

 Do People Always Expect Affordable Water Whenever They Turn on the Tap?

One of our challenges with water affordability is producing a universal low-income rate assistance program. I think there’s growing momentum to accomplish this. It is a priority for Metropolitan in our climate adaptation masterplan because we believe access to water is a human right.

Statewide, it has been estimated that it will cost $600 million a year to provide assistance for low-income residents across the state to ensure access to affordable water whenever needed. And so, we are trying to figure out a funding strategy for these residents. Water is going to get more expensive; we all know that. We are going to have to help those low-income earners be able to afford their water bills. It is, we believe, a basic human right. 

Are People More Aware of How Much Water They Use for Landscaping?

We have spent over a billion dollars since 2016 to encourage people to reclaim California’s natural landscape heritage. And the hopeful sign is that they are starting to do this. People are beginning to find the beauty of our natural landscape heritage and appreciate it in a way that they did not before.

How we landscape our yards is changing and will change in the future. It’s already happening.  You are beginning to see this all over California.

This does not mean we can only grow cactus. Our yards do not have to look like deserts. I have a California-friendly garden at my house, which is as green as anybody’s, and yet, I don’t use much water. My plants have adapted to California. In the next 10-15 years, we’ll be looking at pictures of Southern California as it once was and appreciating it.

Our Takeaway

While Ortega’s comments reference California, they certainly are not specific to California.  Throughout the country, especially in the western states, people are coming to the same conclusions.  We must value water, appreciate water, and use it more efficiently.