Water Conservation Tips

 
 

For Every Room in the House with Plumbing:

  • Repair leaky faucets, indoors and out.

  • Consider replacing old equipment like toilets, dishwashers and laundry machines.

In the Kitchen:

  • When cooking, peel and clean vegetables in a large bowl of water instead of under running water.

  • Fill your sink basin when washing and rinsing dishes.

  • Only run the dishwasher when it is full.

  • When buying a dishwasher, select one with a “light-wash” option.

  • Only use the garbage disposal when necessary (composting is a great alternative).

  • Install faucet aerators.

In the Bathroom:

  • Take short showers instead of baths.

  • Turn off the water to brush teeth, shave and soap up in the shower. Fill the sink to shave.

  • Repair leaky toilets. Add 12 drops of food coloring into the tank. If color appears in the bowl one hour later, your toilet is leaking.

  • Install a toilet dam, faucet aerators, and low-flow shower heads.

Laundry:

  • Run full loads of laundry.

  • When purchasing a new washing machine, buy a water-saving model that can be adjusted to the load size.

Outdoors:

  • Maximize the use of natural vegetation and establish smaller lawns. For portions of your lot where a lawn and landscaping are desired, ask your local nursery for tips about plants and grasses with low-water demand (such as creeping fescue). Consider planting more trees, shrubs, ground covers, and less grass. Shrubs and ground covers provide greenery for much more of the year and usually demand less water. Use native plants in flower beds. Native plants have adapted to rainfall conditions in your area and often provide good wildlife habitat. Cluster plants that require extra care together to minimize time and save water.

  • When mowing your lawn, set the mower blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil improving moisture retention allowing it to grow thicker thanks to a deeper root system and more leaf surface to take in sunlight. This helps grass survive drought, tolerate insect damage, and fend off disease.

  • Only water your lawn when necessary. If you water your lawn and garden, only do it once a week if rainfall is not sufficient. Avoid watering on windy and hot days. Water the lawn and garden in the morning or late in the evening to maximize the amount of water which reaches the plant roots (otherwise the water will evaporate). Use soaker hoses to water gardens and flower beds. If sprinklers are used, take care that the do not water walkways and buildings. When you water, put down no more than 1 inch (set out an empty can to determine how long it takes to water 1 inch) each week. This watering pattern will encourage more healthy, deep-grass roots. Over-watering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in the growth of shallow, compacted root systems that are more susceptible to drought and foot traffic. If an automatic lawn irrigation system is used, be sure it has been properly installed, is programmed to deliver the appropriate amount and rate of water, and has rain shut-off capability.

  • Apply mulch around shrubs and flower beds to reduce evaporation, promote plant growth, and control weeds.

  • Add compost or an organic matter to soil as necessary, to improve soil conditions and water retention.

  • Collect rainfall for irrigation in a screened container (to prevent mosquito larvae growth).

  • When washing a car, wet it quickly, then use a bucket of water to wash the car. Turn on the hose for final rinse (or let mother nature wash your car when it rains).

  • Always use a broom to clean walkways, driveways, decks, and porches, rather than hosing off these areas.