Helpful Conservation Tips

Kitchen and Laundry
-Avoid running the water for a cold drink, keep a container of water in the refrigerator.
-Only run your dishwasher when you have a full load. A standard dishwasher will use about 15 gallons of water per load.
-If you was your dishes by hand, don’t let the water run continuously for rinsing.
-Rather than letting the faucet run, try using a bowl of water for cleaning and rinsing vegetables.
-Be sure to use the right water level to match the size of your laundry load, otherwise wash only full loads. Each load of laundry normally requires 50 gallons or more of water.
-Have the hose connections checked for leaks.

Bathroom
The bathroom can be the leading cause of wasting water. One of the best ways to save water inside your home is to replace the parts inside your toilet every few years. Because toilet leaks are often hard to see and hear, they are often surprise customers with an unusually high water bill at the end of the month. A single toilet can waste over 1,000 gallons of water in a single day. Preventive maintenance is the best way to save water and money.

-To test your toilets for leaks, add food coloring to the water tank. Don’t flush for 15 minutes. If there is color in the bowl after 15 minutes, you may have a leak.
-Install water saving low-flow showerheads.
Don’t use the toilet to dispose of tissue or other trash. Every flush can use anywhere between 3.5 to 7 gallons of water every flush.
-Consider a shower instead of a bath. A half filled tub holds about 50 gallons of water.
-Limit your shower length. An unrestricted showerhead runs at five to 10 gallons a minute.
-Avoid letting the water run while shaving, brushing your teeth, and washing your face.

Conserve Water on the Lawn
-Try to avoid excessive watering. Most lawns need only an inch of water a week to stay healthy.
-To prevent run of, water your lawn in short cycles (5 minutes), allowing it to saturate in between cycles. Also aerate the soil in the spring and fall to avoid run off.
-By watering in the early morning or evening, you will reduce the amount of evaporation.
-Set your sprinklers carefully to avoid watering paved areas.
-Keep your lawn trimmed to 2-3” long to enhance root development with minimal watering.

Sensible Landscaping
-Plant in the Spring and Fall when the watering requirements are lower.
-Use drip irrigation to water plants, trees, and shrubs.
-Minimize grassy areas, which require most water.
-Use mulch to help the soil retain moisture and to reduce the growth of weeds.

Other Outdoor Tips
-Avoid using the hose to clean areas that can easily be swept with a broom.
-When washing your vehicles, run the water only to wet and rinse.
--Shut off and drain water lines to outside spigots in the winter. This prevents freezing temperatures from causing expensive leaks.
-Inspect all your hoses, sprinklers and spigots for leaks and malfunctioning parts.