Tips for Saving Water
Understanding where you use water most can provide hints on where the most water can be conserved. Here are a few water conservation tips to help you save water:
Indoors
- Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering your indoor plants or garden.
- Repair dripping faucets and toilets. One drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water a year.
- Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
- Choose appliances that are water and energy-efficient.
- Don’ t run a faucet when you’ re not using the water, such as while brushing your teeth.
Kitchen
- Only run the dishwasher when it is fully loaded, and use the “light wash “ feature, if available, to use less water.
- Store drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until the water is cool.
- Avoid wasting water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering.
Laundry
- Operate clothes washers only when they are fully loaded, or set the water level to match the size of your load.
Outdoors
- Check your well pump periodically. If the automatic pump turns on and off while water is not being used, you could have a leak.
- Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground cover, shrubs, and trees. Once established, they do not need water as frequently and usually will survive a dry period.
- Install irrigation devices that are the most water efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of efficient devices.
- Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil.
- Avoid buying recreational water toys that require a constant stream of water.
Car Washing
- Use a shutoff nozzle on the hose that can be adjusted down to a fine spray.
Lawn Care
- Avoid over watering your lawn. A heavy rain eliminates the need for watering for up to two weeks. Most of the year, lawns only need one inch of water per week.
- Water in several short sessions rather than one long one, in order for your lawn to better absorb moisture.
- Position sprinklers so that water lands on the lawn and shrubs and not on paved areas.
- Avoid sprinklers that spray a fine mist. Mist can evaporate before it reaches the lawn.
- Raise the mower blade to a higher level. A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture.
Pool
- Install a new water-saving pool filter. A single back flushing with a traditional filter uses 190 to 250 gallons of water.
- Cover pools and spas to reduce evaporation of water.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency