Water Conservation Tips

Kitchen

Prepare food efficiently. Speed cleaning food by using a vegetable brush. Spray water in short bursts. Faucet aerators cut consumption.

Defrost sensibly. Plan ahead to defrost foods overnight in the refrigerator. Don't use running water. Use the microwave or put wrapped food in a bowl of cold water.

Reduce dishwashing. Use a rubber spatula to scrape dishes clean to limit pre-rinse. Let really dirty pans or dishes soak to speed washing.

Use fewer dishes. Limit dishwater use to full loads. Minimize detergent use. Prepare food with an to reducing dishwashing.

Avoid using garbage disposals. Compost or feed leftovers to puts when possible. Use recycled water in disposal.

Use ice to cool water. Cool drinking water in refrigerator or with ice, not by running tap. Use leftover drinking water for pets or to water plants.

Bathroom

Short showers save water. To be a water saver, install a low-flow showerhead and keep showers under five minutes. Turnoff the water to soap up.

Flush only when necessary. Avoid using the toilet for a wastebasket. Every flush you eliminate can save between two and seven gallons of water. Install a water-efficient toilet.

Test your toilet. 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.

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. Don't use bricks.

Brush teeth efficiently. 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. 

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?

Don't waste clean water. Plug the bathtub to start the hot water; wait to add cold water until the tub had reached the right temperature. When you've finished bathing, use the bath water to clean the tub. 

Washing Machine

Wash clothes wisely. 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.

Buying a new washing machine? Choose wisely. Find the one that conserves water and energy and has a suds-saver attachment.

Washing clothes by hand can be easier and save water if you use only a small amount of low-suds detergent and presoak really dirty items.

Outdoors

Wash cars efficiently. 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.

Water yards wisely Landscaping benefits most from slow, thorough, infrequent watering. Minimize evaporation by watering in early morning or evening. Aerate lawns. Install strip irrigation and automatic timers.

Mulch to retain water. Plant hardy, water-saving plants, trees and shrubs, particularly native species. Mow less frequently in dry times. Limit lawn by using gravel or bark.

Cover pools and spas to reduce evaporation. Avoid overflows and splashes by reducing water levels. Water landscape with wading pool water.