Inside The Home

• Store drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.
• Use a bowl of water to clean fruits and vegetables rather than running water over them, then reuse the water for watering houseplants and gardens.
• Defrost foods in the fridge or microwave rather than under running water.
• When you run the water while waiting for hot water to come down the pipes, run it into a watering can or bucket to use for plants or gardens.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Always wash full loads of laundry and dishes.
• Use low-volume toilets, low-flow shower heads, and water efficient appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines.
• Install aerators on faucets to reduce the water volume.
• Replace old toilets with new efficient 1.6 gallon per flush models.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily.  Dispose of tissues, insects, and other such waste in the trash instead.
• Avoid putting water down the drain that can be used for something else.
• When cleaning the fish tank, empty the water into the garden or houseplants instead of the sink.  The plants will love the nitrogen in the water as well!

Outside The Home

• Water your lawns and gardens during the coolest part of the day or at night to minimize evaporation.
• Watering your grass and plants more heavily but less often saves water and builds stronger roots.
• Water the lawn only when it needs it.  A good test is to step on the grass and if it springs back up when you move then it doesn’t need water.  If it stays flat, then it does need water.
• When watering your lawn, make sure you are not inadvertently watering the street, sidewalk, or driveway.
• Letting your lawn grow longer helps it retain moisture and requires less watering.
• Lawns only need watering once per week.  One hour of watering will provide a good soaking which helps the lawn grow deeper roots so it stays green longer.
• De-thatching the lawn encourages root growth and prevents water run off.
• Mulch gardens so they retain moisture longer.
• Put a rain barrel on your downspouts and use this water for irrigation.If you do wash your car at home, use soap and water from a bucket as well as a hose with a shut off nozzle for rinsing.