Conservation Tips

Saving Water in the Home

Wash only full loads of laundry. Many washing machines use 40 or more gallons of water a load whether you are washing a full load or only a few items.
Take showers instead of baths. The usual bath requires 36 gallons of water while a shower normally uses 25 gallons. Shorten your shower time and save even more!
Don't leave the water running while you are shaving or brushing your teeth. You can easily waste up to 20 gallons of water this way.
Stop using the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Five to seven gallons of water are wasted each time you flush.
Check your toilet for leaks. A leak can waste more than 100 gallons of water per day. To check, put a small amount of food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the coloring begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak. Adjust or replace the flush valve or call a plumber.
Don't let the kitchen faucet run while you are cleaning vegetables. Instead, fill the sink with rinse water.
Only use the automatic dishwasher when it is full. Every time you run the dishwasher it uses about 25 gallons of water. And don't bother to rinse the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, simply scrape them clean.
Store a pitcher or bottle of drinking water in your refrigerator. This avoids the practice of letting the tap water run for a cold drink.

Saving Water Outdoors

Water your lawn or flowers in the cool of the day to avoid excess evaporation. Position the lawn sprinkler so you are not watering the sidewalk.
Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants. This will slow the evaporation of moisture.
When washing your car, turn off the water hose when not in use