With a hot summer becoming a hot fall, water use in your home may have skyrocketed. It’s easy to forget that water use increases when it’s warm outside, especially in the summer. Water use follows a standard “bell curve” every year, and with our recent hot, dry spell, this year’s uphill slope is steeper than ever.

While your water use may not appear to be different, professional landscapers may automatically turn up the irrigation dial to accommodate for plant consumption in hot periods. And, since outdoor uses account for 70 to 80 percent of water use in our area, that can mean quite a difference in your water bill. Pool water evaporation and lawn irrigation needs can approach 2 inches per week during hot weather.

If your water use seems abnormally high, think back over the past two months (LVMWD bills every-other month for a two month period). What was the weather like? Did you fill your pool? Install new landscaping? Have extra loads of laundry? Did family members take more showers?

Look at your water use last year (see the bottom of your water bill). While the numbers are different, the pattern should be similar – lower in the winter and fall, then climbing in the summer months. If you used more than in the past warm weather months, consider contacting us for a free home water use survey (call (818) 251-2200 for information).

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