 Never put water down the drain when there may be
another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.
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Verify that your home is leak-free, because many
homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a
two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read
exactly the same, there is a leak.
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| Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your
faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to
waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer
utilities.
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| Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring
to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the toilet
bowel within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent
parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and
easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may
stain tank.)
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| Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of
tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
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| Take shorter showers. Replace you showerhead with an
ultra-low-flow version.
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| Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by
closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full.
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| Don't let water run while shaving or washing your
face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, then wash
or shave after filling the basin.
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| Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing
aerators with flow restrictors.
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| Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers
only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the
size of load you are using.
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| When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin
with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the
faucet.
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| Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than
letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.
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| Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen
foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost
setting on your microwave.
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| Consider installing an instant water heater on your
sinks that are located far from your main water heater so you don't have
to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce heating costs for
your household.
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| Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water
faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
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| If the toilet flush handle frequently sticks in the
flush position, letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it. |
| Don't over-water your lawn. A hearty
rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.
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| Water lawns during the early morning hours when
temperatures and wind speeds are the lowest. This reduces losses from
evaporation.
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| Don't water your street, driveway or sidewalk.
Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs
... not the paved areas.
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| Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient
for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of
water-efficient methods of irrigation. |
| Regularly check sprinkler systems and timing devices
to be sure they are operating properly. Broken or poorly adjusted
sprinklers may go un-noticed since sprinklers are usually set to operate
during early morning hours when we are asleep.
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| Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches.
A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root
system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
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| Avoid over-fertilizing your lawn. The application of
fertilizers increases the need for water. Don’t fertilize monthly, instead
apply fertilizers which contain slow-release, water-insoluble forms of
nitrogen.
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| Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also
helps to control weeds that compete with plants for water. |
| Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground
covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need to be watered
as frequently and they usually will survive a dry period without any
watering. Group plants together based on similar water needs.
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| Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk. Use a
broom to clean leaves and other debris from these areas. Using a hose to
clean a driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water.
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| Outfit your hose with a nozzle that stops water flow
completely when not actually using the water. Don't forget to turn off the
water at the faucet when you are finished using the hose.
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| Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your
garden hoses can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours, so
don't leave the sprinkler running all day. Use a kitchen timer to remind
yourself to turn it off.
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| Check all hoses, connectors and spigots regularly.
Replace hard leaky hose washers to eliminate leaks. |
| If you wash your own car, use a bucket for the soapy
water and a hose end shut-off nozzle. |
| Avoid the installation of ornamental water features
(such as fountains) unless the water used to fill it is recycled. Locate
where there are minimal losses due to evaporation and wind drift.
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