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Ways You Can Conserve Water
In The Bathroom
- Install low consumption (1.6 gal/flush) toilets. This can save up to 14,000 gallons of water per year.
- Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Install a low-flow showerhead.
- Take showers instead of baths.
- Turn off the shower while soaping or shampooing.
In The Kitchen And Laundry Room
- Run only full loads in the dishwasher and washing machines.
- Use a dishpan or plug the sink for washing and rinsing dishes.
- Install a low-flow aerator on all faucets.
- Do not pre-rinse dishes before loading in the dishwasher.
- Refrigerate a bottle of drinking water instead of letting the faucet flow until the water is cold enough to drink.
- Use the proper load-size selection on the washing machine.
- Instead of running water over fruits and vegetables to clean them, fill a bowl of water and use a brush.
- If you are in the market for a new washing machine, consider a front loader. Front loaders use less water and are more energy efficient.
Lawn, Garden And Outdoors
- Water during the morning or in the evening to prevent evaporation during the heat of the day.
- Install a rain barrel and use the recycled water to water your garden and wash your car.
- Plant native plants in your garden and around your yard. They require less water than non-native plants.
- Avoid watering the lawn on windy days.
- Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems.
- Mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation.
- Plant drought-resistant plants.
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways, steps and sidewalks.
- Wash the car using a filled bucket.
- Make sure your hose has an automatic shut-off nozzle or one that can be adjusted to a fine spray.
- Cover swimming pools to slow down the evaporation of water. This can reduce water loss by 30%.
- Repair any swimming pool leaks.
- Manually clean your pool filter. The average backwash uses between 250 and 1,000 gallons of water.
In The Community
- Encourage the use of water conservation devices by large water-using facilities.
- Report any faucet leaks.
- Reduce the load on air conditioning units by shutting off air conditioning when and where it is not required.
- Minimize the water used in cooling equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Wash your car at a commercial car wash that recycles its water.