Best Practices

Adopted Common Sense Measures

Monte Vista Water District's Board of Directors adopted Ordinance 33 establishing year-round water use efficiency best practices. District customers are required to practice the following common sense measures to use water as efficiently as possible:

  • Set automatic irrigation timers to water between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Exceptions: Hand-watering, drip irrigation, "smart" (e.g., weather-based) irrigation controllers.
  • Adjust watering and fix broken heads to avoid excessive runoff from irrigation
  • Turn off irrigation during rain
  • Repair leaks within 7 days of discovery
  • Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle to wash vehicles or use an automatic commercial car wash
  • No hosing down of paved surfaces, except when required for health or safety purposes
  • Restaurants serve water only upon request
  • Hotels offer guests the option to not launder linen daily

Help Make a Difference

We're asking our customers to watch their daily water usage and find ways to cut back. If we apply simple, common sense water-saving measures to our daily lives, we'll build a resilient water supply this year and for years to come.

Remember: The water we save today may be the water we need tomorrow!

What are you doing campaign logo (text).

Monte Vista Water District is asking our customers, "WATER You Doing..." to use water more wisely? Here are some tips on how to use water more efficiently to protect this precious resource. Click here for a printable version.

Outdoor Landscaping

If You...
You'll Save...
While hand watering, focus on dry spots, pay attention to avoid runoff
750 to 1,500 Gallons per Month
Reduce irrigation cycles (PDF) by 1 to 3 minutes
15 to 25 Gallons per Minute
Irrigate your landscapes only in the early morning hours (PDF) (5 a.m.)
20 to 25 Gallons per Day
Adjust irrigation timer valve run times (PDF) seasonally
250 Gallons per Cycle
Adjust sprinklers to avoid unnecessary over spray
500 Gallons per Month
Fix leaky and broken sprinkler heads
20 Gallons per Day
Replace spray head nozzles with rotator nozzles
1,200 Gallons per Year per Nozzle
Use drips or bubblers to irrigate your flower and shrub beds
20 to 25 Gallons per Day
Use "smart" irrigation controller
40 Gallons per Day
Replace part of lawn with low water use plants
1,000 to 1,800 Gallons per Month
Put 2 to 4 inches of mulch around bushes, trees and shrubs
20 to 30 Gallons per Day per 1,000 square feet


Outdoor Cleaning

If You...You'll Save...
Clean sidewalks and driveways with broom rather than hose8 to 18 Gallons per Minute
Take car to car wash, or at least use a self-closing hose nozzle8 to 18 Gallons per Minute
Use pool and spa covers30 Gallons per Day
Repair leaks around hosebibs, spigots, pool and spa pumps15 to 20 Gallons per Day per Leak
Clean pool filter manually rather than backwash250 to 1,000 Gallons per Cleaning
Capturing air conditioning run off9 Gallons per Day


Indoor Living

If You...You'll Save...
Fix leaky faucets and toilets20 to 50 Gallons per Day per Fixture
Install aerators on all faucets4.7 Gallons per Day per Faucet
Run only full loads in your clothes and dish washers300 to 800 Gallons per Month
Keep showers to less than 10 minutes700 Gallons per Month
Turn off water when brushing teeth or shaving240 Gallons per Month
Don't use toilet as trash can400 to 600 Gallons per Month
Replace old toilet with more efficient toilet1.6 Gallons per Flush
Replace old clothes washer with high efficiency clothes washer20 to 30 Gallons per Load
Replace old shower head with one that uses 2.5 gallons per minute1000s of Gallons per Month
When hand washing dishes, fill sink, don't leave water running2.5 Gallons per Minute