ista | Direct : Water Conservation

Conserving Water

also...Conserving Gas and Electricity

Indoors
	KITCHEN Letting the water run to get a cold drink sends a lot of good water down the drain. Instead, put a bottle of water in the refrigerator. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.
	BATHROOM Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet. Take shorter showers. Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. The initial burst of cold water can be warmed by adding hot water later. Don't let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin. If the toilet flush handle frequently sticks in the flush position letting water run constantly, report this to your manager in order for maintenance to replace or adjust it.
	LAUNDRY Wash clothes only when you have enough for a full load. INDOOR MISCELLANEOUS Report dripping faucets. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or strain your septic system. When adjusting water temperatures, instead of turning water flow up, try turning it down. If the water is too hot or cold, turn the offender down rather than increasing water flow to balance the temperatures. HOT WATER TIPS Use cold water to operate your garbage disposal. Cold water use saves energy and is the recommendation of most disposal manufacturers. When washing dishes by hand, use a sink stopper or dishpan so water - hot or cold - doesn't rush down the drain. Remember, too, that hot water running needlessly not only wastes water, but energy as well. Set your water heater to 120° F, which will produce plenty of hot water and still save energy.

Outdoors

SAVING WATER OUTDOORS

Don't over water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks.

Avoid watering too soon! Not watering in the spring will promote deep root growth and better drought tolerance in the summer.

Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.

Don't water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs ... not the paved areas.

Instead of watering several times a week for short periods, it is better to put down one inch of water once a week.

Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk. Use a broom to clean leaves and other debris from these areas. Using a hose to clean a driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water.

Outfit your hose with a shut-off nozzle which can be adjusted down to fine spray so that water flows only as needed. When finished, "Turn it off" at the faucet instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks.

Use hose washers between spigots and water hoses to eliminate leaks.

Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden hoses can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours, so don't leave the sprinkler running all day. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn it off.

Check all hoses, connectors and spigots regularly.

Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water-efficient methods of irrigation.

Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.

Avoid over fertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water. Apply fertilizers which contain slow-release, water-insoluble forms of nitrogen.

Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps to control weeds that compete with plants for water.

Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need to be watered as frequently and they usually will survive a dry period without any watering. Group plants together based on similar water needs. Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. If you wash your own car, park on the grass to do so.

Avoid the installation of ornamental water features (such as fountains) unless the water is recycled. Locate where there are minimal losses due to evaporation and wind drift.

also...Conserving Gas and Electricity