Water Conservation

Inside your home

• Check faucets and pipes for leaks.  A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 or more gallons of water per day.  Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons per day. Install efficient faucets and/or faucet aerators. 
• Check toilets for leaks.  Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank.  If without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.  Also make the water level is not too high, the fill valve is working properly and the flapper is not leaking.  A running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water per day.  Install new high efficiency toilets.
• Install water saving shower heads.  Water saving low flow shower heads or restrictors use less than 2.5 gallons per minute.
• Limit shower time.  Long hot showers can use five to ten gallons of water every unneeded minute.  Limit showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash down and rinse off.  A four minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.
• Insulate your water pipes.  You will get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
• When doing laundry, always wash full loads.  Adjust the water level in the washer to the amount needed for the load.
• If washing dishes by hand, fill sink with water rather than continually running the tap. When using your dishwasher only wash full loads.
• Don’t let the faucet run while you clean vegetables or thaw frozen foods.
• Minimize your use of kitchen garbage disposer unit.  Disposers require lots of water to operate properly and also add considerably to the volume of solids in a septic tank which can lead to maintenance problems.  Start a compost pile as an alternative.
• Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator.  Running tap water to cool it off for drinking water is wasteful.  Store drinking water in refrigerator in a safe drinking bottle or pitcher.

In your yard or garden

• Plant drought resistant lawns, shrubs and plants.  Many shrubs and plants thrive on less water that other species.  Native plants will use less water and be more resistant to local plant diseases.  Plant slopes with plants that will retain water and help reduce runoff.  Group plants according to their water needs.

• If you use an irrigation system, make sure it is properly set up and maintained.  Install and maintain a rain sensor on the irrigation controller if it doesn’t have one built in. Inspect sprinkler heads for damage or malfunction.  Adjust sprinklers so they are not spraying sidewalks or driveways.
• Add mulch to prevent water loss through evaporation. 
• Water in the morning to prevent water loss due to evaporation and prevent the growth of fungus.  Try not to water when it is windy.
• Use a rain barrel to collect water for use in the landscape.
• Pool owners can use a cover to reduce water loss though evaporation.  A pool cover saves energy and reduces the need for chemicals.  Check for leaks around pumps.
• Instead of using a hose to clean sidewalks & driveways, use a broom.