Water Conservation Action Tips

Inside

• Check your home for leaks: read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak. Repair all leaks a.s.a.p.!
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily by disposing of tissues and other waste into the trash can.
• Take shorter showers and consider buying an ultra-low-flow showerhead.
• Do not let water run while brushing your teeth or washing your face.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a glass of water.
• Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded.
• Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste rather than using a garbage disposal.
• Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running water over it.
• Use phosphate-free detergents.
• Choose natural cleansers - borax, ammonia, vinegar, or baking soda.
• Recycle water from your fish tank by using it to water plants. Fish emulsion is a good, inexpensive fertilizer high in nitrogen and phosphorus.

Outside

• Do not drink water directly from a pond, creek, stream, river, or lake without bringing it to a rolling boil for at least one minute. Let the water cool before drinking it.
• Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks and driveways.
• Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants to retain water.
• Use a moisture indicator to tell when your lawn needs watering and when it does not.
• Do not over-water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every five to seven days in the summer and every ten to fourteen days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.
• Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speeds are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
• Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
• Plant native and/or drought tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
• Consider installing drip irrigation for individual bushes, trees, flowers, and garden areas.
• For swimming pools, consider buying a cover to reduce evaporation and a water-saving pool filter.

General

• Use rechargeable batteries.
• Choose organic paint and natural finishes - wax and organic wood stains and natural preservatives.
• Support wetland preservation efforts.
• Have any abandoned wells on your property sealed by a licensed contractor.
• Replace any underground storage tanks on your property with aboveground storage.
• Have septic systems pumped out every one to three years by a qualified plumber.
• Support water conservation effort at work and home!

* Special thanks to the American Water Works Association. Please visit their web site at www.awwa.org for additional information.