Tips for Conserving Water this Spring
Small measures in your home can save hundreds of gallons for the community
INDOORS
- Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes. Running your appliances more often than necessary wastes up to 50 gallons of water a week.
- Check your pipes and faucets for leaks. Even small leaks can waste 20 gallons a day. Reviewing your water meter after a period of inactivity will tell you if hidden leaks exist.
- Insulate your water pipes. Insulated pipes heat water faster, and waste less water in the process.
- Take shorter showers and utilize low-flow shower heads. Inefficient showers can use up to 10 gallons a minute.
- Don’t use your toilet as a trash can. Flushing garbage wastes 5-7 gallons each time.
OUTDOORS
- Limit the number of times you water your lawn. Most grass requires only 1 inch of water per week.
- Water your lawn in the early morning. Midday watering leads to evaporation; evening watering fosters fungus growth. Avoid watering on windy days.
- Check your sprinkler system for leaks and broken sprinkler heads. Assure that water is being sprayed on grass and plants, not driveways, sidewalks, and gutters.
- Plant drought resistant plants. Add organic material to soil and mulch to the surface to reduce evaporation.