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Avoid using the toilet for a wastebasket. Every
flush you can eliminate can save between two and seven gallons
of water.
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Leaks waste water. Add several drops of food
coloring to the toilet tank. If it's leaking, the coloring will
appear in the toilet without flushing.
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If you don't have a low flow toilet, use plastic
bottles filled with water and pebbles to displace water in the
tank. Don't obstruct float and don't use bricks.
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Don't let the water run while you brush your
teeth or shave. Turn the faucet on briefly to rinse. An electric
razor saves the most.
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Keep showers under 5 minutes. Turn off the water
to soap up.
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Filling the tub uses about 50 gallons of water.
Try bathing in just 10 gallons. Plug the tub when you shower;
how full does the tub get?
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Match washer's load selector to your load size.
Try to wash only full loads. Minimize detergent use. Save energy
by using cold water to wash.
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Install low-volume toilets.
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Limit dishwasher use to full loads. Minimize
detergent use. Prepare food with an eye to reducing dishwashing.
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Choose a car wash that recycles water. At home,
use a shut-off nozzle and wash your car in small sections.
Direct runoff to water landscaping.
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Replacing an old shower head can save up to 7.5
gallons of water per minute without sacrificing full spray
action at low or high water pressures.
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When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water
run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other
with rinse water.
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Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when
they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month.
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Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost
instead and save gallons every time.
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Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator
instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop
goes down you not the drain.
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Check your water meter and bill to track your
water usage.
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Minimize evaporation by watering during the early
morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are
lighter.
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Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is
partially filled with water instead of running water from the
tap.
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Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to
reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
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Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your
driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
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If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in
less than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient
showerhead.
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Plug the bathtub before turning the water on,
then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
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Direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs
and trees, or collect and use for your garden.
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Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic
sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering.
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Don't use running water to thaw food.
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Choose a water-efficient drip irrigation system
for trees, shrubs and flowers. Watering at the roots is very
effective, be careful not to over water.
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Contact a qualified contractor to fix that leaky
faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a
week
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When doing laundry, match the water level to the
size of the load.
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Teach your children to turn the faucets off
tightly after each use.
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Before you lather up, install a low-flow
showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save
your family more than 500 gallons a week.
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Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the
water run while you scrape them clean.
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Water your plants deeply but less frequently to
create healthier and stronger landscapes.
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Make sure you know where your master water
shut-off valve is located. This could save gallons of water and
damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.
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Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or
irrigation your yard receives. Check with your local water
agency to see how much rain is needed to skip an irrigation
cycle.
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Teach your family how to shut off your automatic
watering systems. Turn sprinklers off if the system is
malfunctioning or when a storm is approaching.
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Make sure your toilet flapper doesn't stick open
after flushing.
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Install an instant water heater on your kitchen
sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up.
This will also reduce heating costs for your household.
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Cut back on rinsing if your dishwasher is new.
Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
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Use a 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.
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Do one thing each day that will save water. Even
if savings are small, every drop counts.
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When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler
in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
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Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and
ponds are equipped with re-circulating pumps.
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Winterize outdoor spigots when temps dip to 20
degrees F to prevent pipes from bursting or freezing.
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Insulate hot water pipes so you don't have to run
as much water to get hot water to the faucet.
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Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while
you wash your car and save more than 100 gallons.
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If your toilet was installed prior to 1980, place
a toilet dam or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to
cut down on the amount of water used for each flush. Be sure
these devices do not interfere with operating parts.
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Install water softening systems only when
necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum number of
regenerations necessary to maintain water softness.
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Wash clothes only when you have a full load and
save up to 600 gallons each month.
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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.
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Listen for dripping faucets and toilets that
flush themselves. Fixing a leak can save 500 gallons each month.
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More plants die from over-watering than from
under-watering. Be sure only to water plants when necessary.
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Choose new water-saving fixtures, like waterless
urinals.
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If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling
your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the sink. Drop
them in a house plant instead.
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To save water and time, consider washing your
face or brushing your teeth while in the shower.
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While staying in a hotel or even at home, reuse
your towels.
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Collect the water you use for rinsing produce and
reuse it to water houseplants.
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Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods
to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you
water.
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We're more likely to notice leaky faucets
indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and
hoses for leaks.
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Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes.
You'll save up to 1000 gallons a month.
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When you clean your fish tank, use the water
you've drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and
phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.
