Water Conservation Ideas

Tips to Save Water

Saving water saves money and keeps water in lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater so fish and other aquatic fauna can live.

Indoor Use

• Use low-flush toilets.
• Use flow aerators on faucets.
• Take shorter showers.
• Use your dishwater and clothes water only when you have a full load.
• Do not use running water to thaw meat and other frozen foods.
• Don't let water run while shaving, brushing your teeth or washing you face.

Outdoor Use

• Water your lawn only when necessary.  It takes 660 gallons of water to supply 1,000 square feet of lawn with 1 inch of water.  (This is almost the same amount as you use inside the house in an entire week.)  As a general rule, established lawns do not need to be watered more often than every five to seven days.
• Water lawns early in the morning when tempatures and wind speeds are lowest.
• Don't allow sprinklers to water your street, driveway, or sidewalk.
• During dry weather, raise the height of your mower so that you are cutting grass at the highest recommended height.  A higher cut encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.
• Avoid over fertilizing your lawn.  Fertilizer applications increase the need for water.
• Use mulch around trees and shrubs and in gardens beds to retain moisture in the soil.
• Do not use the hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk.
• Use a shut-off nozzle on your hose so that water flows only as needed.
• Do not leave sprinklers of hoses unattended.
• If you wash your car, park it on the grass and use hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.