Conservation Tips

Indoors

  • Inspect all pipes and faucets for leaks -- hundreds of gallons of water could be dripping away every day.
  • Check toilets for hidden or 'silent' leaks. Add food coloring to the water in the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak.
  • An average tub holds more then 50 gallons of water. Conserve water by filling the tub only partially.
  • Install water-savings showerheads; turn off water while soaping up or shampooing, take shorter showers.
  • Turn off the tap while you shave or brush your teeth.
  • Keep a bottle of water in the refrigerator for drinking.
  • Match the load setting on the washing machine with the amount of laundry to be washed. If your machine has no load selector, wash full loads only.
  • Load your automatic dishwasher to capacity before running it.
  • Never use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket.
  • Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator.
  • Rinse vegetables in a full sink or pan of water.
  • Rinse dishes in a full sink or pan of water.

Outdoors

  • Use a broom instead of a water hose to clear debris from patios, driveways, and sidewalks.
  • To reduce evaporation, water your lawn in the early morning or in the evening -- and never on a windy day.
  • Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants so more water can be retained by the roots.
  • Wash the car with soap, water, and a bucket, using a hose with a shut-off nozzle for a quick final rinse.
  • Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn in watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
  • Cover pools and spas to cut down on evaporation.
  • Longer grass means less evaporation. Let grass grow taller in hot dry weather by setting the mower one notch higher. Aerate your lawn.
  • Don't over-water landscaping.
  • Don't water on cool, rainy or windy days.
  • Use drip irrigation systems.
  • Plant drought-tolerant or low water-use plants and grasses.
  • Use shrubs and ground cover to reduce the amount of grass.
  • Place mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and discourage weeds.