Evaporation can make hundreds, even thousands of gallons of water disappear. An average-size pool with average sun and wind exposure loses approximately 1,000 gallons of water per month, enough to keep a family of four in drinking water for nearly a year and a half. Mulch planting areas. Mulch covers open areas with tasteful good looks, helps keep the ground from overheating, holds moisture that otherwise would evaporate, and discourages weeds. Select the appropriate water level for the size of your load of laundry.
Most washers now offer preset water levels for small, medium, and large loads.
Use full loads whenever possible. Consider installing drip irrigation for individual bushes, trees, flowers, and garden areas. Drip systems are designed to get water slowly and directly to the roots of plants where they need it most. They deliver water in terms of quarts or gallons per hour rather than per minute. How to Read your Water Meter All residential customers of the City of Benicia have their water supply measured by a meter.