Water Conservation Tips

You can reduce your water and sewer expenses by conserving water throughout your home, below are a few tips. 
 

In the Bathroom
  • Don't leave the faucet running when you use the sink. Instead, fill a glass to brush your teeth or partially fill the basin to wash or shave. Turn the water on again to rinse your brush, razor, or washcloth.
  • Install a water-saving showerhead. Older heads use 5-10 gallons per minute (GPM). All new fixtures use approximately 2.5 GPM and offer equal water coverage and force.
  • Install a faucet aerator on the bathroom faucets. Many high water consumption problems stem from toilets, which slowly leak water because of bad valves, improperly positioned float arms, or defective overflow tubes.
  • Don't use your toilet as a wastebasket; unnecessary flushing wastes water.
  • If you do not already have a water-saving toilet or conservation device, consider putting a jug filled with water in your toilet tank to take up space. Your tank will fill more quickly and you will use less water per flush.
In the Kitchen
  • Rinse dishes, vegetables, and fruits in a filled basin, rather than under running water. Water your plants with left-over rinse water. Plants also love fish tank water.
  • Wash only full loads in the dishwasher; use the "light wash" setting when possible.
  • Install a faucet aerator on the kitchen faucet available from your local hardware or department store.
  • Keep a jug of chilled water in the refrigerator for drinking. It tastes better this way, too.
In the Laundry
  • Wash only full loads of clothing and hand wash single garments.
  • Consider purchasing a suds saver for reusing lightly soiled wash water.
Outside
  • Water your lawn only in the cool parts of the day to minimize evaporation. How much is enough? Place a tuna or cat food can on the lawn in reach of the sprinkler. When the can is full, your yard has had sufficient watering (1"). Light sprinklings tend to evaporate quickly and encourage shallow root growth. Heavy sprinklings runoff and wastewater. Listen to weather forecasts to avoid unnecessary watering. Avoid watering the driveway and street, too.
  • Let your grass grow longer in warm months to discourage evaporation and lawn burn.
  • Limit the amount of turf in your yard and grow plants, which require little water.
  • Sweep off your driveway, walks, and patio rather than hosing them off.
  • Buy a trigger nozzle for your hose rather than leaving the water running between uses.
  • Cover pools when not in use to prevent evaporation.
  • Mulch outdoor plants to help the soil retain moisture.