Water Saving Tips

Water Saving Tips*

Here are some outdoor water saving tips for you to exercise at home.

• Water your yard before 8 a.m. to reduce evaporation and wind interference.
• Do not allow irrigation water to leave the landscaped area.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways, sidewalks, and other hardscape surfaces
• Eliminate sprinkler overspray from driveways and sidewalks. Divide irrigation run times into multiple cycles to eliminate run-off water leaving the landscaped area.
• Tune-up your irrigation system by checking for and repairing leaks and damaged sprinklers.
• Refrain from using decorative fountains unless they are equipped with a recycling system.
• Do not allow hoses to run while washing vehicles. Use a bucket or a hose with an automatic shutoff valve.
• Install a smart sprinkler controller.
• Check your sprinkler system frequently for leaks, overspray, and broken sprinkler heads.
• Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering
• Use a moveable sprinkler for larger areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
• When watering grass on steep slopes, use a soaker hose to prevent wasteful runoff.
• When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
• Use a generous layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation.
• Plant in “zones” by putting plants with compatible watering needs together.
• Consider xeriscape trees, plants and groundcovers.
• Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose ones that are low water use.
• Plant during the spring or fall when the watering requirements are lower.
• Topdress your lawn with 1/2 inch of finely screened organic compost each fall.
• Avoid over-seeding your lawn with winter grass. Once established, ryegrass needs water every 3 to 5 days, whereas dormant Bermuda grass needs water only once a month.
• Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting.
• Aerate your lawn so water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
• Plant more shrubs and ground cover with rock and granite mulching and less grass.
• Watering less and letting the garden dry after a good soak is better for fully utilizing water usage.
• Weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light, and water.
• Direct downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs and trees, or collect and use for your garden.
• For hanging baskets, planters and pots, place ice cubes under the moss or dirt to give your plants a cool drink of water and help eliminate water overflow.
• Consider filling in areas that are hard to water–like isolated strips along sidewalks and driveways—with wood chips or gravel to eliminate the need for watering.
• Use porous materials for walkways and patios—like mulch or gravel—to keep water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.
• Start a compost pile. Using compost when you plant adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
• Wash your car on the grass. This will water your lawn at the same time.
• Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while you water landscaping or wash your car.
• Or go to a commercial car wash that recycles water.
• Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
• Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
• Avoid installing ornamental water features and fountains that spray water into the air. Instead, choose trickling or cascading fountains–they lose less water to evaporation.
• Don’t buy recreational water toys that require a constant fl ow of water.
• Bathe pets outdoors in an area in need of water

The following are some indoor water saving tips for you to exercise at home.

• Turn off the water when you brush your teeth or shave.
• Shorten your showers by one or two minutes.
• Turn the water in the shower off while you shampoo and condition your hair.
• Install a water efficient shower head.
• Plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
• Install a low volume toilet.
• Check your toilet bowl for leaks by putting food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Wash only full loads of laundry.
• Make sure dishwasher loads are full.
• If washing dishes by hand, fill one side of the sink with dishwater and the other side with rinse water instead of running tap.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks.
• Wash produce in the sink or a pan filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
• When shopping for a new appliance, opt for one that offers cycle and load size adjustments.
• Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.
• Don’t use running water to thaw food.
• Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
• Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
• Throw trimmings and peelings from fruits and vegetables into your yard compost to prevent from using the garbage disposal.
• When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your indoor or outdoor potted plants.

*These tips have been provided by Kellogg’s Garden Products and Metropolitan Water District.