Looking for ways to save water?

Here’s our suggestions for indoor water saving tips.

Install a low flow or trickle valve shower head.*
Take a five minute (or less) shower.
Turn off water while lathering your hands in the sink.
In the shower, turn water on to get wet; turn off to lather up; then turn back on to rinse off.
Place a large bucket in the shower to catch excess water and use this to water plants.
Don’t let the used bathtub water go down the drain! Reuse bath water outdoors on your landscape.
Turn water off while brushing teeth or shaving.
Plug the sink instead of running water to rinse your razor
Check for and repair leaks in the tub diverter valve.
Install aerators on bathroom faucets. *
Install a toilet dam or displacement device such as a bag or bottle to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush
Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the toilet bowl within 30 minutes.
Install new toilets that use less than 1.6 gallons. Install a high-efficiency toilet. **
Consider buying a dual- flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full- flush for solid waste. **
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Adopt the adage, “if it’s yellow let it mellow and if it’s brown flush it down.”
Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers.

Get Energy Star labeled washing machine/Install water-efficient clothes washer. **
Operate the washer with full loads only – even if the machine has an adjustable load setting.
Check your clothes washer hoses regularly for cracks that could result in leaks
If your washer has a variable water volume setting, select the minimum amount required per load
Use the shortest wash cycle for lightly soiled loads

Place a large bucket in the sink when washing dishes or vegetables to collect access water.
When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden or for cleaning.
Run the dishwasher only when full.
Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean
Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Don’t let the tap run while you are waiting for cool water to flow./ Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap
Install faucet aerators on sink faucets to reduce flow to 1 gallon/minute.
Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste
Use the water-level settings for the most efficient run on your dishwasher.
Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don’t have to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce water heating costs for your household.
Install a water and energy- efficient dishwasher. **
Insulate your water pipes. You’ll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up

* Provided FREE by most Districts.
**Rebates provided by most Districts.