Water Conservation Tips

Outdoors
Forty percent of total household water supply is used outside the home.

Many residents water their lawns too much. Most lawns need only one inch of water every five to seven days in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A heavy rain means you don't have to water at all!

Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.

How do you know when your lawn has soaked up enough water to maintain its health? Buy a rain gauge to determine how much rain or irrigation your yard has received.

Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also helps control weeds that compete with landscape plants for water.

Xeriscape landscaping is a great way to design, install and maintain both your plants and irrigation system. This landscaping method uses native and drought-tolerant plants, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need water as frequently and usually will survive a dry period without watering. Group plants together based on similar water and light needs.

When mowing, raise the blade on your lawn mower to at least three inches high, or to its highest level. Closely-clipped grass makes the roots work harder, requiring more water. Increase mowing height to 2-3 inches and apply mulch to both reduce evaporation and prevent weed growth.

Don't allow sprinklers to water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position them so water lands on the lawn and shrubs... not the paved areas. Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. A garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn sprinklers off.

Use a broom rather than a hose to clean decks, sidewalks, and other paved areas: 5 minutes of running the hose uses 25 gallons of water.

Collect rainwater for reuse in the garden whenever possible.

Indoors
Approximately sixty percent of total household water supply is used inside the home in three main areas: the kitchen, the bathroom and the laundry room

Make sure all faucets are tightly turned off and not leaking.
Check to see if your plumbing has any undiscovered leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you have a leak. Replace old faucets with new water-efficient models or install aerators to reduce flow. A leaking faucet could waste up to 4,000 gal/year: This adds to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or can strain your septic system.

Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up.

In the Kitchen

Turn off the faucet! Don't let the water run while doing the dishes. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded. Set the water level for the size of load you are using. Consider water use when purchasing a new dishwasher: New water and energy efficient models use 20% less water.

Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Don't let the tap run while you are waiting for cool water to flow.

Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste, instead of using a garbage disposal. Garbage disposals also can add 50 percent to the volume of solids in a septic tank, which can lead to malfunctions and maintenance problems.

Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.

In the Bathroom
Often, toilets have "quiet" leaks. To find out if your toilet is leaking, add a little food coloring to the tank. If the color appears in the bowl 30 minutes later, your toilet is leaking. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)

If the toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.

Install a toilet dam, or water displacement device, such as a bag or bottle, to reduce the amount of water needed for each flush. When replacing toilets, buy low-volume units that use half the water of older models.

Take shorter showers. You can save about five to seven gallons for every minute saved in the shower. Use low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators‹they reduce water flow from 8 gallons per minute to 3 and you¹ll hardly feel the difference.

Re-use water. Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or for cleaning. Catch water while you shower or when washing vegetables or rinsing dishes and use to water plants.

In the Laundry
Always wait until you¹ve got a full load of laundry to do the wash‹a full load uses 25 fewer gallons of water than a half load.

Consider energy and water efficiency when purchasing new laundry machines: Newer models use 40% less water and can save up to 6000 gal/year

Sources: Southwest Florida Water Management District American water Works Association Maryland Department of Environment

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