WATER CONSERVATION TIPS:

  • As much as 80% of domestic after usage occurs outside the Home on lawns and gardens.

  • The most efficient time for watering is early morning or late evenings when temps are cooler and winds lighter.

  • Don’t water the pavement. Set sprinklers so that water lands on lawns and gardens, not on pavement, and stop sprinklers when puddles or runoff occur and allow the water to soak into the soil before resuming watering.

  • Use a broom or blower to clean sidewalk/driveways, not gallons and gallons of water.

  • Wash your car on the lawn. Don’t allow the water to run continuously. Turn on and off to soak down and rinse off. Water will be absorbed by the lawn. Use a commercial car wash that recycles.

  • Cover your swimming pool, this helps to reduce evaporation. A pool cover can reduce water loss by 90%.

  • STUDIES HAVE SHOWN HOMES CAN WASTE MORE THAN 10% DUE TO LEAKS.

  • Check your indoor water-using appliances and devices for leaks. THE LARGEST WATER USER INSIDE THE HOME IS THE TOILET.

  • Check your toilet for leaks. A leak inside the toilet can waste up to 300 gallons of water per hour. Check by adding a few drops of food coloring into the tank. If there is a leak, color will show in the bowl in about 30 minutes. Check for worn out, corroded, or bent parts. Replacement kits are relatively inexpensive and easily installed.

  • Faucet leaks are usually visible; however, there are some unnoticeable leaks in areas like the on/off handle or in the pipes below the basin.

  • Drips of 60 drops per minute=192 gallons per month; 90 drops per minute=310 gallons per month; a 3” stream=1095 gallons per month. This increases your monthly water and sewer bill.

  • Running your washing machine or dishwasher only when full could save you hundreds of gallons a month.

  • Check your water meter and bill to track your usage.

  • Avoid running water to thaw food.

  • Use a bowl of water to clean and prepare vegetables rather than letting the faucet run.

  • Check all hose connections for leaks.

  • Be sure your hot water heater thermostat isn’t set too high. Extremely hot settings waste water and energy when the water has to be cooled with cold water before you can use it.

THESE AND MORE TIPS CAN BE FOUND ON WWW.CITYOFHERNANDO.ORG/DEPARTMENT/PUBLIC-WORKS/WATER.