[gatotom]

Being on a metered water supply, my water use has averaged around 10,000 gallons per month with 3 children, a wife and dog and cat. Rarely will we wash the cars with the household water in the summer because we have irrigation water for outside. It is pretty dry here in the summer so without irrigation water the outside would be like the rest of the mountainside, dry. In a area with fire danger a reality, irrigation water is a must. We water only about 1 1/2 acres which is mostly flowered garden and a little lawn. That gives us a perimeter around the house for fire safety. The rest of the acres get yearly pruning to keep fire danger low.

Now that all the children are grown and out of the house our water use is 4-5000 gal. per month with wife and one dog. The irrigation use in summer is around 30-35000 gal. per month and at a yearly fee of 100 bucks, it is the bargain for the piece of mind it gives. We have been in the same house for the last 22 yrs.