Conservation Tips

Tips for Conserving Water Outdoors

Use mulch around shrubs, trees, and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface.
Do not install or use an ornamental water feature unless it recycles water.
Install moisture sensors on sprinkler systems.
Repair all leaks on outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems.
Sweep walks and driveways instead of hosing them off.
Water the lawn or garden during the early morning to prevent evaporation. Don't water when it's windy.
Remove thatch and aerate turf to encourage movement of water to the root zone.
Mow your lawn on a higher level; longer grass blades inhibit weed growth and reduce evaporation.
If you have a pool, use a pool cover to prevent evaporation.
Direct rain downspouts so that they drain to a flower bed or garden area.
Wash your car on the lawn, and let the rinse water help your lawn. Turn off the hose between rinses.
If your pool loses more than 1/4" of water a day, check the pool and filter equipment for leaks.
Bathe pets outdoors in an area that needs watering.

Tips for Conserving Water Indoors

Repair all leaks on pipes, faucets, and toilets.
Install low-flow devices on toilets and showerheads.
Purchase high-efficiency appliances with water-saving features.
Turn off water while brushing teeth and shaving. Fill the sink with a couple of inches of water to rinse your razor.
Take short showers instead of baths. If you must use a tub, fill the tub only halfway.
Run only full loads of laundry in the washing machine and dishwasher.
If you wash dishes in the sink, use one sink for rinse water and one for soap.
Rinse vegetables in a filled sink or pan instead of under running water. Use your rinse water to water houseplants.
Use your garbage disposal less and compost instead.
Reuse fish tank water, which is a natural fertilizer, to water plants.
Don't use running water to thaw frozen food.
Use dropped or left over ice cubes to water plants, roots can absorb water slowly and it prevents pots from overflowing.
Turn off the faucet while lathering your hands.
Insulate hot water pipes. This will speed up the time you wait for hot water to reach the faucet.

Water Facts

It takes 1,850 gallons of water to refine one gallon of crude oil.
It takes 39,090 gallons of water to produce a typical US automobile.
It takes 36 gallons of water to produce a 2 ounce serving of pasta.
It takes 1,500 gallons of water to process one barrel of beer.
It takes 6,800 gallons of water to grow a day's food for a family of four.
It takes 5-7 gallons of water to flush a toilet.
It takes 13 gallons of water to produce one gallon of paint.
The average shower takes 25-50 gallons of water.
It takes 2 gallons of water to brush your teeth.
It takes about 2 gallons to wash dishes with an automatic dishwasher and 20 gallons to wash dishes by hand.
The average person uses 168 gallons of water per day.
One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds.
Frozen water is 9% lighter than water, which is why ice floats.
Each day the sun evaporates a trillion tons of water.
An acre of corn will give off 4,000 gallons of water per day in evaporation.
More than 2 billion people (a quarter of the earth's population) do not have a safe supply of water.
Americans use five times the amount of water that Europeans use.
One gallon of gasoline can contaminate approximately 750,000 gallons of water.
Freshwater animals are disappearing five times faster than land animals.
Approximately 20% of rain that falls in the US becomes groundwater. We are using groundwater 100 times faster than rainfall replaces it.