Water Conservation Tips For Residents

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  • Flush toilets only when necessary. Try to flush two fewer times per day.
  • Quickly report all leaky toilets, faucets and pipes.
  • Catch water in a bucket or watering can while waiting for hot or cold water and add to house plants, or soak dishes.
  • Shave with a small amount of water in the sink rather than running water.
  • Turn off water while shaving and brushing your teeth.
  • Wash only full loads (laundry & dishwasher). Try to wash two fewer loads per week.
  • Wash vegetables and fruits in a bowl or basin using a vegetable brush; don't let the water run. Use water on house plants.
  • If you have to pre-rinse dishes, soak them instead of running water.
  • Chill drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet until the water is cold.
  • Replace your inefficient clothes washer with a highly-efficient horizontal-axis clothes washer.
  • Drop Kleenex in the trash instead of flushing it and save gallons every time.
  • Pick-up the phone and report significant water losses from broken pipes, open hydrants and errant sprinklers to the property owner or your water management district.

Water Savings Tips For Your Community

  • Install a low-flow showerhead and take only a 4-minute shower or 3-inch bath. (Showers use less water than baths.)
  • Insulate your water heater and water pipes so you waste less while waiting for hot water to flow.
  • Put a water displacement bag or plastic bottle in each toilet tank.
  • Replace your inefficient clothes washer with a highly-efficient horizontal-axis clothes washer.
  • Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
  • Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
  • Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.

Water loss due to leaks and excess usage can cost thousands of dollars.

  • Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save up to 8- gallons of water every time.
  • Choose water-efficient drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs, and flowers. Watering roots is so effective, be careful not to over water.
  • Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and can save up to 140 gallons a week.
  • Don't water your lawns on windy days. After all, sidewalks and driveways don't need water.
  • Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons each year.
  • Use a long screwdriver as a soil probe to test soil moisture. If it goes in easily, don't water. Proper lawn watering can save thousands of gallons of water annually.