Water is earth's most precious resource and with unpredictable rainfall, and growing population, we cannot take our water supply for granted.  We must use water wisely to ensure we have an adequate, high-quality water supply, both now and in the future. Not only do conservation efforts help save this precious resource, they can also help reduce water bills. It's a win-win situation.

Water Conservation Tips

There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.

In the Bathroom ...

• Turn off the running water while you brush your teeth. (Save 1 to 5 gallons of water per minute.)
• Turn off the water while shaving. Fill the sink with a little water and rinse your razor in that. (Save 1 to 5 gallons of water per minute.)
• Install low-flow shower heads and toilets. (Save 1 to 5 gallons of water per minute.)
• Take shorter showers. You can save 2 to 10 gallons for every minute you cut back. Or take a shallow bath instead. (Short showers with a low-flow head uses less water than a bath!)
• In the shower, turn off the water in-between soaping and rinsing.
• Fix leaky faucets. Save up to 2,700 gallons of water per year.
• Fill your bathtub only half full for an adult-size bath. Save up to 12 gallons in a 24-gallon bathtub.
• While waiting for the shower or bath water to warm up, save that water and use it on your house plants, flower beds, trees, for pet drinking water or elsewhere.
• Get running toilets fixed. A running toilet can use as much as 30 to 500 gallons of water per day. If the toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position letting water run, replace it or get it fixed.
• Install a toilet dam or displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush. Put an inch or two of sand or pebbles in the bottom of a quart or larger container and fill the rest of the container with water. Put the cap on and place the bottle in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanism. The container will save on each flush without impairing the efficiency of the toilet.
• Check your toilets for leaks. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the coloring begins to appear in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Even a small leak can waste thousands of gallons a month.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month.

In the Kitchen, ...

• Don't use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
• Rinse vegetables and fruits with a sink full of clean water rather than running the water the whole time.
• Don't run the tap to get cold or hot water. Keep a bottle or pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap water to cool it. Heat water in the microwave, instead of running the hot water tap for hot water.
• When washing dishes by hand, don't keep water running. Use a sink full of water to wash and another sink full of water to rinse.
• Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run over them while you scrape.
• Reuse the water left over from cooking foods like pasta and vegetables to water house plants.
• Run only full loads of dishes in your dish-washing machine. (Save up to 15 gallons of water per load).

In the Rest of the House ...

• Run only full loads of clothes in your washing machine. (Save up to 23 gallons of water for every load you don't run). Follow the same rules for your dishwasher.
• Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
• Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or cleaning around the house.
• Don't use or install ornamental water features unless they recycle water.
• Use high-efficiency appliances if possible.
• Get leaky faucets and pipes fixed. A small drip can waste up to 2,700 gallons per year.
• Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save water every time.

When you save water, you save money on your utility bills too. Saving water is easy for everyone to do.