Few More to Conserve

• When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
• Some refrigerators, air conditioners and ice-makers are cooled with wasted flows of water. Consider upgrading with air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.
• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.
• Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
• Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and save gallons every time.
• Plant in the fall when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful.
• For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
• Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
• Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
• Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants retains moisture and saves water, time and money.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save water every time.
• If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model.
• Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.
• If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.
• We're more likely to notice leaks indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, sprinklers and hoses for leaks.
• If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks.

Few more ways to Conserve

• Check the root zone of your lawn or garden for moisture before watering using a spade or trowel. If it's still moist two inches under the soil surface, you still have enough water.
• When buying new appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They're more water and energy efficient.
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons per month.
• Upgrade older toilets with water efficient models.
• Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.
• When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
• Use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
• Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
• Walkways and patios provide space that doesn't ever need to be watered. These useful "rooms" can also add value to your property.
• Collect water from your roof to water your garden.
• Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
• Rather than following a set watering schedule, check for soil moisture two to three inches below the surface before watering.
• Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won't run when it's raining.
• Don't use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.
• Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the roots where it's needed.
• Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.
• Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region.
• When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
• Teach your children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.

Even More Ways

• Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the sprinkler heads in good shape.
• Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
• Before you lather up, trade up your current shower head to a water-efficient shower head such as the Waterpik® EcoFlow® which helps reduce water consumption by up to 40%. Water-conserving shower heads are inexpensive, easy to install, and can save a family of four up to 17,000 gallons of water a year.
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• Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• Don't water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.
• Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
• Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save water and prevent damage to your home.
• To decrease water from being wasted on sloping lawns, apply water for five minutes and then repeat two to three times.
• Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others.
• Use a layer of organic material on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.
• Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those spraying water into the air.
• Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
• Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month.
• Use a rain gauge, or empty tuna can, to track rainfall on your lawn. Then reduce your watering accordingly.
• Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.
• Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case it malfunctions or you get an unexpected rain.
• Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden to remind you when to stop. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons a minute.
• If your toilet flapper doesn't close after flushing, replace it.
• Make sure there are water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.

Some more Ways

• Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons each year.
• Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don't have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
• Use a grease pencil to mark the water level of your pool at the skimmer. Check the mark 24 hours later to see if you have a leak.
• If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
• Use a trowel, shovel, or soil probe to examine soil moisture depth. If the top two to three inches of soil are dry it's time to water.
• If installing a lawn, select a turf mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
• When you save water, you save money on your utility bills too. Saving water is easy for everyone to do.
• When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
• Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
• Bathe your young children together.
• Consult with your local nursery for information on plant selection and placement for optimum outdoor water savings.
• Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.
• Insulate hot water pipes for more immediate hot water at the faucet and for energy savings.
• Wash your car on the lawn, and you'll water your lawn at the same time.
• Drop your tissue in the trash instead of flushing it and save water every time.
• Direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems toward water-loving plants in the landscape for automatic water savings.
• Make suggestions to your employer about ways to save water and money at work.
• Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.
• Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You'll save up to 100 gallons every time.

More Ways to Save

• Share water conservation tips with friends and neighbors.
• If your toilet was installed before 1992, reduce the amount of water used for each flush by inserting a displacement device in the tank.
• Setting cooling systems and water softeners for a minimum number of refills saves both water and chemicals, plus more on utility bills.
• Washing dark clothes in cold water saves both on water and energy while it helps your clothes to keep their colors.
• Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
• Report broken pipes, open hydrants and errant sprinklers to the property owner or your water provider.
• Let your lawn go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks or less if it rains.
• Plant with finished compost to add water-holding and nutrient-rich organic matter to the soil.
• Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller water drops and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.
• Listen for dripping faucets and running toilets. Fixing a leak can save 300 gallons a month or more.
• Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.

Ways to Save Water

• One more way to get eight glasses of water a day is to re-use the water left over from cooked or steamed foods to start a scrumptious and nutritious soup.
• Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions and landscape requirements.
• Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons a month.
• Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.
• When shopping for a new clothes washer, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some of these can save up to 20 gallons per load, and energy too.   
• Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.
• Aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink basin or a large container and rinse when all of the dishes have been soaped and scrubbed.
• Catch water in an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. One inch of water on one square foot of grass equals two-thirds of a gallon of water.
• Turn off the water while you shave and save up to 300 gallons a month.
• When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.

  

Save Water

In the garden

    * Rainwater is better for plants - collect it! Only use mains tap water as a last resort. Watch the weather forecast and save washing-up water for gardening on dry weekends;
    * Water plants in the evening to avoid the water evaporating. Always use a watering can rather than a hose - you can measure more easily how much water each plant receives. A hosepipe left running for one hour will use as much water as most of us need during a whole week!
    * Use a bucket to wash your car rather than a hose.

   
At home

    * Fit insulation to water pipework - running taps waiting for them to get hot can waste a lot of water;
    * If you have an older or larger cistern, save water during flushes by filling a plastic bottle or bag with water and carefully placing it in the cistern. NEVER place a brick in the cistern;
    * Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth and rinse at the end with a mug of water. A family of four can save a bath full of water every third day this way;
    * Take showers instead of baths. A bath uses up to 90 liters (18 gallons) of water. Showers use an average of only 30 liters (7 gallons). So, save time, water and energy by taking a shower;
    * Rather than running tap water until it's cool, keep a bottle of cold water in your refrigerator;
    * Wash vegetables in a bowl, not under a running tap. Soaking vegetables makes them easier to peel. A running tap wastes 10 liters (2 gallons) a minute;
    * Half-load program-mes on dishwashers and washing machines use more than half the water and energy of a full load. Wait until you have a full load before switching the machine on;
    * Check the label when buying new appliances to check they are water-efficient.


At work
   
    * Report dripping taps to the Building Services help-desk on extension 9898 - a dripping tap can waste 10 000 liters (3,000 gallons) of water a year;
    * Don't forget to turn the tap off properly after washing your hands. A dripping tap wastes 30 drops of water per minute and 380 liters (84 gallons) per month - this equates to 4,600 liters (1,008 gallons) per year.