Helpful Tips to Conserve Water

Put one to two inches of sand or pebbles in the bottom of a 1-liter bottle to weigh it down. Fill the rest of the bottle with water and put it in the toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanism. On average, the bottle may save five or more gallons of water each day without harming the efficiency of the toilet. If the tank is large enough, two bottles may be placed inside.

Hardware and plumbing supply stores stock inexpensive shower heads or flow restrictors that will cut shower flow to about three gallons per minute instead of five to ten. They are easy to install, and showers will still be cleansing and refreshing.

Before brushing, wet the toothbrush and fill a small glass for rinsing.

Even a small drip can waste 50 or more gallons of water per day.

An automatic washer uses 20 to 25 gallons per cycle. Certified Energy Star machines use an average of 14 to19 gallons per cycle. Older washers use 29 to 45 gallons per load. The most efficient washers use less than five gallons per cubic foot of capacity. The smaller the water factor rating, the more water efficient the washer.

This puts a stop to the wasteful practice of running tap water to cool it for drinking.

Leaks waste water 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but an inexpensive washer is usually enough to stop them.

Water long enough for it to seep down to the roots where it is needed. A light sprinkling that sits on the surface will simply evaporate and be wasted.

Position sprinklers so the water lands only on the lawn or garden. Avoid watering on windy days when much of the water may be carried off to the street or sidewalk.

Mulch slows the evaporation of moisture.

Wash the car from a bucket of soapy water. Use a hose only to rinse it off.