Environmental Resources Management

Water conservation tips

• Make sure your home is leak-free. Check your water meter over a period of time when you are certain that no water is being used. If the meter reading changes, you have a leak!

• Repair leaks as soon as they are discovered. A seemingly small leak can waste 70 - 100 gallons of water per day.

• It may be difficult to see the leak, so check by adding a few drops of food coloring into the tank. Wait 20 minutes and then look in the bowl for traces of the dye. If you see the dye in the bowl, you have a leak. If the color in the tank is lighter or you don't see the dye any longer, this is another indication that you have a leak. Call a plumber if you can't fix the problem yourself.

• When washing your car, move your car onto the grass. This way the excess water can percolate into the ground and recharge the aquifer, our primary source of drinking water.

• Don't use running water to thaw food; it wastes water. Defrosting in the refrigerator also helps prevent bacterial contamination.

• Don't pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it. For example, you can use it to water your indoor plants or garden.

• Lower the rise of toilet tank water by adjusting the tank float. Another option is to put a small plastic jug filled with water and some weights into the tank to displace water. You could save up to half a gallon with every flush (don't try this with low-volume toilets). If you are remodeling your bathroom, replace your old inefficient 3 - 5 gallon-per-flush toilet with a new high-efficiency low volume 1.6 gallon-per-flush model.

• Installing a high-efficiency showerhead or fitting a flow restrictor into your current showerhead can reduce water use by 50%. A water-efficient sink faucet aerator can save up to 280 gallons per year. These devices also save on hot water costs and increase water pressure. Get more information on how to obtain a FREE high-efficiency showerhead.

• A shower almost always uses less water than a bath. Even a five-minute shower can use about 35 gallons of water, so keep it short! Shorter showers save hot water costs and air conditioning bills.

• Only turning on the water to rinse while brushing your teeth or shaving can save up to 10 gallons of water per day.

• By eliminating the pre-soak and second rinse cycles when you use your washing machine, you can save as much as 19 gallons of water per load.