By Marti E Kranzberg
SAN DIEGO– Moses taught us the importance of speaking up and using our voice. Each of us has a voice. I happen to have many. As a professional voice-over talent sometimes I get to play a variety of people and share information for commercials, tutorials, and promotions. It’s a fun and creative job to breathe life into words and to live my mission: To use my powers for good.
So when I voiced a Public Service Campaign promoting water conservation I learned some worthwhile tips, and like Moses after receiving the 10 Commandments in the desert, I want to share some wisdom with my tribe.
If you haven’t seen it, check out this PSA.
Ever since I completed the commercial, I’ve been thinking about how we use water. How do we live here, in what is really a desert, if we don’t have enough of this valuable resource? The drought in California is real and it affects our quality of life. Governor Brown is declaring a crisis and laws will be passed down to us regarding usage. So here are 10 Commandments worth sharing. I hope you will live by them.
* Water only 3 days per week. Residences with odd-numbered street addresses water only Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Residences with even-numbered addresses water only Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. For apartments, condominiums, and businesses, water only Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
*Water at the right times, the right way. From November 1 through May 31, water between 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. for only 7 minutes when using a standard sprinkler system. From June 1 to October 31, water between 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. for only 10 minutes when using a standard sprinkler system. Look into water saving drip irrigation that puts the water in the ground and not just on the leaves to evaporate before it gets to the roots.
* Fix Leaks. Repair water leaks inside or outside your home. Fix that faucet that drips and that toilet that keeps running water. Make sure to check your irrigation system so that your sprinklers are not watering the pavement.
* Wash full loads. (as it explains in the commercial above that I voiced) Wash full loads in the dishwasher and you can save up to 30 gallons per week. You actually use less water running a load of dishes than individually hand-washing then. Wash full loads in the laundry and save up to 100 gallons a week.
*Take shorter showers. By taking a shower that is 5 minutes or less, you can save up to 75 gallons per week. I remember the old hippie expression from the 1970’s: “Conserve water – shower with a friend.”
*Retain moisture in the soil by using mulch. Mulching also helps to control weeds that compete with plants for water.
* Use low-water use plants and grasses in your landscaping and gardens. To get ideas for what to plant, visit the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College or view their website at www.thegarden.org. There are many alternatives for a beautiful sustainable landscape that is water efficient.
* Wash your car wisely. If you need to get your car cleaned, take your car to a car wash that recycles water. A professional car wash will use much less water than you use doing it yourself. When you wash your car at home, do it before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. using a bucket or a hose with a shut-off nozzle.
* Install high-efficiency toilets and faucets with an aerator. By replacing your standard toilet with one that is highly efficient, you can cut your water usage by up to 8,000 gallons per year. You may also qualify for a $100 rebate for installing these toilets. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, replacing old, inefficient faucets and aerators with WaterSense labeled models can save the average family 700 gallons of water per year. That’s equivalent to the amount of water needed to take 40 showers.
* Get in the habit of turning the faucet off. Please don’t leave the water running! If you need to let it run to heat up your water, catch the flow in a pot or bucket or watering can and use it for something else.
* Use your voice to spread the word about conservation. Share with friends, family, and neighbors how you ‘waste no water’ on your own social media sites and email. You can also check out the City of San Diego’s Facebook page for more tips. Pass the word along and tag #WasteNoWater in your posts or tweets.
Join me and other San Diegans to waste no water. Conservation is our community ethos. Together, let’s use our voices to make a difference. For a complete list of City of San Diego water use restrictions and more ways to save, visit www.WasteNoWater.org.
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Kranzberg is a freelance writer and voice-over talent based in San Diego.
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