Water Wise and Conservation Tips

• How can I tell if I have leaks in my home plumbing system?
  • Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak
  • Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If and color shows up in the bowl before you flush, you have a leak.
  • Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.
• How concerned should I be about a leaky toilet?
  • A leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water a day. A common reason toilets leak is that the toilet flapper has become worn and no longer seals closed once the toilet has filled.
• What outdoor activity uses the most water?
  • Almost 40% of total residential water consumption is from water used for landscape irrigation and swimming pools.
  • Water lawns during the early morning hours or evening when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
  • Water your lawn only when it needs it. If you step on the grass and it springs back up when you move, it doesn't need water. If it stays flat, it does need water.
• What indoor home activity uses the most water?
  • Inside the home, water use is fairly evenly distributed among appliances, but nearly 30% is flushed down the toilet. A typical household of four uses 400 gallons of water per day. Clothes washing generally accounts for about 25-30%, followed by showers around 20-25%, and faucet use (washing dishes, brushing teeth, etc) is approximately 20%.
• How can I conserve water with my swimming pool?
  • If you have a pool, keep the water level a bit lower to minimize splashing, and use a cover if possible to slow evaporation. An average-sized pool can lose about 1,000 gallons of water per month if left uncovered.
• How can I conserve water with my landscape irrigation?
  • If you water your grass and trees more heavily, but less often, this saves water while building stronger roots and making your lawn and landscaping more drought-tolerant. Agronomists recommended watering lawns so they receive 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.
  • One of the easiest and most efficient ways to conserve water use for landscape irrigation is by replacing traditional sprinkler system controllers with a controller that has a rain sensor or a weather-based controller. You will save water (and money!) by not watering when it rains.