-
Replace
toilet and showerheads with water-efficient models.
-
Repair
leaky faucets indoors and outdoors, including
leaking toilets (most water lost to leaks is due to
toilet leakage which can be silent and
undetectable. To determine if the toilet is
leaking, put a few drops of food coloring or a dye
capsule into the water in the toilet tank. Do NOT
flush, but wait about 10 minutes, and if the dye
appears in the toilet bowl, the toilet has a silent
leak and should be fixed immediately.)
-
Run
only fully-loaded dishwashers.
-
Wash
only full loads of laundry, or change the water
levels in accordance with the load size and use the
shortest cycle possible for lightly soiled loads.
-
Never
leave water running to rinse dishes as you wash; as
you brush your teeth; as you shave.
-
Install
faucet aerators on bathroom and kitchen sinks.
These will save up to one-half the amount of water
used by sinks with aerators.
-
Take
showers instead of baths as they typically use less
water than filling up a tub.
-
Insulate hot water pipes to avoid wasting
water while waiting for it to “run hot”.
-
Don’t
over-water lawns and plantings to the point where
the excess water runs into the street or bar ditch.
-
Use
your sprinkler systems wisely. Turn off during
rainy days; set timers to water in early morning
hours or late evening when there is less water
evaporation. Use a sprinkler that emits large drops
of water close to the ground rather than one that
sprays a fine mist into the air.
-
Cover
pools and spas when not in use to lessen
evaporation. In the summer in Texas a 30 ft by 15
ft pool can easily lose 1.5 inches of water a week,
or 1,800 gallons of water a month! Decorative
fountains should be turned off on windy days and
during drought.
