The following tips can help you save money and conserve water.

Inside the house

1. Repair leaking toilets-a running toilet can waste 200 (or more) gallons per day/6200 gallons per month/74,400 gallons per year.

2. A dripping faucet (1 drop per second) can waste 2,700 gallons of water per year. A slow steady drip can waste 2 gallons per hour/48 gallons per day/460 gallons per month/17,520 gallons per year.  At $2 per 1000 gallons…well you do the math…

3. Install low volume toilets.

4.Wash produce in a partially filled sink or pan.  Reuse that water to water houseplants.

5. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator, rather than running the faucet till the water gets cold.

6. Plug the bathtub or sink before turning on the faucet, then adjust the temperature as it fills.

7. Insulate hot water pipes so you don’t have to run as much water to get hot water to the faucet.

8. Install an efficient shower head.

9. Doing laundry-match laundry size with water level.

10. Buying a new appliance? Choose water saving models.

11. Take shorter showers and lower water level baths.

12. Avoid running the tap while shaving, bushing teeth, washing dishes, and hands.

Landscape Watering–Note-The average hose dispenses 10 gallons per minute!

13. Water before 8 am or after 6 pm to minimize evaporation.

14. Avoid watering on windy days and avoid sprinklers that spray a fine mist, which increases evaporation.

15. Water in several short sessions rather than one long one. Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended, or on all day or night.  A garden hose  can put out 600 gallons in a few hours!

16. Water trees and shrub (that have deep roots) longer and less frequently that shallow-rooted plants, which require smaller amounts more frequently.

17. Make sure your sprinkler is placed so it waters the lawn-not the pavement.

18. Use washers between spigots and hoses to eliminate leaks.

19. Raise your lawn mower cutting height.  Longer grass blades help shade each other, cut down on evaporation, and inhibit weed growth.

Around the house

20. Use a broom, instead of a hose, to clean your driveway.

21. Wash your car on the grass. This will water the lawn at the same time.

22. Check hoses, connectors, and spigots regularly.

23. Know where your master water shut-off valve is located.  This will save time, gallons of water, and damage to your home if a pipe bursts.