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Conserving Water at Home

Conserving water in your home is simple. Most homes use a large amount of water in each of four areas: the bathrooms, the kitchen, the laundry room and outdoors. Making a few small changes can have a big impact on the amount of water available during a drought and the amount of money left in your pocket after the arrival of your water bill.


Tips for the bathroom:

  • Replace showerheads with a more efficient low flow model. A new showerhead can save up to six gallons of water per minute.
  • Place a plastic bag or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water per fill.
  • If you have a leak, fix it! Replace worn washers and valves on sinks and pipes. A leaking faucet can waste more than 3,820 gallons of water a year.
  • Take showers instead of baths.
  • Fill the sink with water instead of running it continuously while brushing your teeth or shaving.

Tips for the kitchen:

  • Run the dishwasher only when fully loaded.
  • Install faucet aerators, they cut the water use from the sink in half.
  • When cooking, steam your vegetables instead of boiling them in a full pot of water. It's healthier and uses less water.
  • Don't leave the water running while doing dishes; fill the sink with soapy water and rinse as needed.

Tips for the laundry room:

  • Wash only full loads.
  • Upgrade to a high efficiency washer. Most newer models use up to 40 percent less water and energy than a conventional washer.

Tips for outdoor use:

  • Do not over-water your lawn. Set sprinklers for times when it is the coolest to avoid evaporation.
  • Cover pools and spas to help against evaporation in the summer.
  • Choose your plants wisely! Buy plants that are native and can take the heat waves. Click here for more information on xeriscaping.
  • Don't cut your lawn too short. Longer grass absorbs water better than short grass.
  • Use lots of mulch in your flower beds and around trees to help hold in moisture.
  • If you wash your car at home, use a bucket of soapy water and a nozzle on the hose that you can turn on and off.

Choosing just two of the suggested changes above at your home will save you money and leave water for tomorrow's use.