Water districts throughout the Conejo are asking residents to cut back on water use, usually by about 15 percent.

If districts don't reduce use for the year from July 2009 through June 2010, they will be heavily fined. How much? Let's look at Oak Park Water Service, which is owned by Triunfo Sanitation District. If there is no reduction in use for the year, Metropolitan Water District says our fine would be over $1 million. If we cutback use only 5 percent instead of 15 percent, then the fine drops to around $650,000. Since ultimately the residents would be paying the fine, it is up to us to figure how to use less water now.

For those of us who live in a single family home, let's look at our yards. We can water one day less per week, and reduce the minutes per sprinkler station.

Right now I'm watering three times a week, with a duration of nine minutes. My grass has been greener, but who cares?

One idea is to water by zone, grouping grass and trees and bushes separately. Grass needs more water, and bushes less, resulting in a net savings. Bushes and trees can also use bubbler heads that more affectively apply water directly to the dirt. They put out more water per minute, so the time would have to be reduced and checked.

For the clay soil so many of us have, watering more frequently for a shorter time can help the water soak in instead of running off. For instance, run 4 minutes two times a day, instead of 8 minutes once a day.

The most important thing of all for us is to pay attention to our sprinkler system. Check the sprinkler heads at least weekly, to make sure they are pointed in the right direction and not leaking. Get adjustable heads, so that you can dial down the reach if water is overspraying. And, if your sprinklers are sending out a fine mist that can blow away, there is a small plastic gizmo for the inside of the sprinkler that can fix that.

I do know we can reduce our water use; it is just going to take more effort on our part. Janna Orkney Oak Park

Orkney is board chair of the Triunfo Santitation District