The largest agriculture-producing state in the country continues its battle with the worst drought it"s ever seen. As California faces its worst drought in the last four centuries, residents are looking for effective ways to conserve water. Consumption has been cut drastically since April 2015 when the state mandated cuts in the urban water usage due to the Sierra snowpack level being 92% lower than usual levels. Visit the US Drought Monitor for the current drought conditions here: droughtmonitor.unl.edu 
Here are a few easy ways Californians can save water and avoid costly bills:
1. Check for Leaks Do a thorough check of your plumbing, including dripping faucets, pipes, and joints to make sure there are no leaks. Some of these leaks can waste as much as 20 gallons of water per day. Some leaks can be easily fixed with sealants.
2. Buy Eco-friendly Products Look for products that contribute to an eco-friendly lifestyle such as green shower heads that conserve water, and inserts for toilets that reduce the volume of water used per flush (see below).
3. Take Short Showers And Quick Handwashes Be conscious and avoid long showers, which are usually unnecessary. Set a time limit for allowing the water to run. For every minute you reduce, you will save 2.5 gallons of water. Also, turn off the water when lathering your hands; it’s only needed to wet them pror to soaping and to rinse them after.
4. Install Small Flushes Every toilet flush consumes between 3.5 and 7 gallons of water, which can equate to three minutes of showering. It is advisable to install a small flush in your toilet, which doesn’t require excessive amounts of water.
5. Fill Up the Dishwasher Use the dishwasher sparingly once it becomes full. You can save even more water by washing dishes by hand. When cooking meals think about using fewer pots and pans.
6. Limit Washing Machine to Full Load Your washing machine uses a lot of water at every turn, so try only washing full loads. If the machine has a water-save setting, use it. If not, consider buying a modern washing machine since it can save 25 gallons of water on each load.
7. Don"t Overuse the Hose Outdoor hoses should be used sparingly and there is no need to wash down the driveway. And consider “Going Brown”: changing your lawns to artificial turf, or drought resistant, low water utilizing plants.
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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