Water Conservation Tips

Effective water conservation and efficiency practices can help extend the present water supply and help meet the water demand expectations well into the future. Here are a few household tips to help you do your part:

Water Conservation in the Home:

A leaky faucet can waste up to two gallons of water per day. Make sure your faucets are turned completely off and repair any leaky faucets.
Put a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank. If after five minutes the color appears in the bowl, your toilet has a water-wasting leak. Check your toilet for leaks regularly.
If you don't have a low flow toilet, you can still reduce toilet water use by up to 20% by placing a half-gallon jug filled with water or sand in your toilet tank.
Put a low-flow showerhead in your shower. This can reduce the amount of water you use by 50%.
Placing an inexpensive, low-flow aerator in your sink can conserve up to six gallons of water per minute.
Wait until you have a full load of dishes or clothes before running automatic washing machines.
The toilet is not a trashcan. One unnecessary flush per day wastes up to 2,500 gallons of water over the course of a year.

Water Conservation Outside the Home:

Don't just landscape - xeriscape. Xeriscaping is gardening methods that can reduce your water usage by up to 40%. To xeriscape, practice the following:
- Use mulch to reduce moisture evaporation
- Till bedding soil so it absorbs more water
- Limit grassy surfaces that require more water
- Choose native plants that use less water
- Raise the height of your lawnmower
- Water efficiently
Water before 10:00 a.m. Up to 1/3 of the water from a sprinkler can be lost to evaporation in the heat and wind.
Reduce water evaporation when you water your yard by using sprinklers that produce large drops rather than fine mists.
Water deeply and infrequently. Most lawns are watered too often and too much. A good rule of thumb is to water for only 15 minutes a day, three times a week in the summer and only once a week in the winter. If you currently water more than this, make changes gradually to allow root systems to adjust. Remember to turn off your sprinklers when it is raining.
Gradually increase the amount you water during the spring season to help meet summer needs.
Remember to watch your sprinkler spread to avoid getting water on the sidewalk and in the street. Water down the gutter is money down the drain.
For shrubs and flower beds, drip irrigation or "soaker hoses" release water slowly near plant roots, where it is needed.
Most trees and shrubs require deeper but less frequent watering - usually only once a month. Drip irrigation or "soaker hoses" can save water use and get water where it is needed the most.
When washing your car, use a hose with a cut-off valve to rinse or turn off the water between the first and last rinse.
Consider installing artificial turf to replace water-guzzling grass.
Install water-friendly native plants and landscaping in place of turf areas.