How Much Water Should You Be Using?

The left side of your Inverness water bill shows your average daily water usage during the billing period. Many folks ask how their usage compares to other customers of similar household size. Customers also ask what their goal for water conservation should be.  Here is a reference chart for guaguing your household's daily usage as compared to a standard usage benchmark. This also lets you check how you might fare should stricter conservation measures be mandated in the time of a drought. 

Water for Lawns and Gardens May Not Always Be Available 

Inverness water mostly originates on the western ridge above town. The amount of water available depends on the daily stream flows. Water staff regularly evaluate how to maximize our collection of surface water, while maintaining sufficient streamflow to support a healthy ecosystem. There is no additional water available locally; an intensive search for ground water (wells) proved fruitless. Inverness residents have voted in favor of keeping Inverness independent, self-sufficient and sustainable. The community's desire is to "tighten our belts" in dry times rather than to import water from the outside.  

Presumably, our residents and property owners accept certain realities of life in this rural community: not all amenities of the city are available here, we live astride the San Andreas fault, and wildland fire is an ever-present threat. An equally important facet of life in this town is that water is limited during part of the year. Verdant lawns and extensive landscaping are not realistic expectations.  To prevent your landscaping from withering and dying during a water shortage, we recommend that you consider the alternative of maintaing a natural look or that you consult resources on "xeriscape" plants. 

Resources:  CalRecycle,  California Department of Water Resources & Water Wise Gardening