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There are three main ways to save water inside your home:
1. Check for and repair leaks.
· Check every faucet for leaks. A single dripping faucet can waste more water in a single day than one person needs for drinking in an entire week.
· Check your toilet for "silent" leaks. Put ten drops of food coloring in the tank. Don't flush for 15 minutes. If the colored water shows up in the bowl, the tank is leaking.
2. Install water-saving devices.
· All homes built after 1996 have low-flow fixtures.
· Install aerators in all your faucets.
· Install a low-flow showerhead using 2.5 gallons per minute or less.
· Consider replacing your toilet with a 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. Or install a displacement device in your toilet tank. Do NOT use bricks. They will disintegrate and cause damage to your toilet. (See the October 2002 issue of Consumer Reports for an evaluation of 1.6 gallon toilets.)
3. Change your habits to use less water.
· Take shorter showers.
· Turn off the water when brushing your teeth and/or shaving.
· Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket.
· Save the water used in cooking pasta or vegetables to water your plants.
· Keep a jug of water in the refrigerator instead of waiting for tap water to turn cold.
· Only wash full loads in your dishwasher. It's not necessary to pre-rinse before loading dishes.
· Select the appropriate water level for the size of your load of laundry.
· Use a basin or pail instead of running water when cleaning.
Over 50% of water consumption is used outdoors, so it provides the greatest potential to reduce consumption.
· Avoid watering between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m..
· Adjust irrigation heads to avoid over spray onto sidewalks and streets.
· Adjust your irrigation controller at least once a month to account for changes in weather.
· Consider installing a rain shutoff device. At the very least, don't water when it's raining.
· Water deeply for deep root growth. Watering in short cycles, with an hour in between cycles, allows water to soak into the soil and reduce runoff.
· Mow your lawn to 2-1/2 to 3 inches and mow only 1/3 of the blade length at a time.
· Select sprinklers that water evenly, in a low pattern, and that have large droplets.
· Use a broom to clean decks, patios, and driveways.
· Wash your car with soapy water from a bucket. Only use the hose to rinse.
Cycle Irrigation - ways to reduce runoff and water loss to create a more drought-tolerant lawn.
www.h2ouse.org- more water conserving ideas
www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Lawns/drought1.htm- Turf Management Before, During and Following Drought in Colorado
Fall/Winter Tree Watering Schedule and a Guide to Tree Care During Drought Years (pdf, 237 kb)caring for your trees
www.watersaver.org for more useful information about caring for your trees and shrubs.
www.conservationCenter.org- Offers FREE seminars in April.