Household Water Conservation Tips

Water Restrictions  |  Irrigation Conservation  |  Water Conservation FAQs 

How to save water in the bathroom:
  1. Check your toilets for leaks. Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately.
  2. Don't use the toilet as wastebasket. Every time you flush trash, gallons of water are wasted.
  3. Take shorter showers. Long, hot showers can waste five to ten gallons every unneeded minute. Limit your showers to the time it takes to slap up, wash down, and rinse off. 
  4. Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. Your local hardware or plumbing supply store stocks inexpensive water-saving shower heads. Mass Save offers rebates for water-saving product
  5. Take baths. A bath in a partially filled tub uses less water than most showers.
  6. Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush. There is no need to keep water on. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.
  7. Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Even the smallest drip adds up! 

How to save water in the kitchen and laundry:

  1. Use your dishwasher and washing machine only when full.
  2. If you wash dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing. If you have two sinks, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. If you have only one sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device.
  3. Keep a bottle of tap water in the refrigerator for drinking. It's much cheaper than brand water.
  4. Check facets and pipe for leaks. Leaks waste water 24 hours a day.

  How you can save water outside:

  1. Water your lawn only when it needs it. A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn't need water. If it stays flat, fetch the sprinkler.
  2. Deep-soak your lawn. When you water, make sure it’s long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will do the most good. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow root systems.
  3. Water during the cool parts of the day. Early morning generally is better than dusk since it helps prevent growth of fungus.
  4. Don't water the gutter. Position your sprinklers so water lands on the lawn or garden, and not on paved areas. Also avoid watering on windy days.
  5. Plant drought-resistant trees and plants. Many beautiful native trees and plants thrive with for far less watering than other non-native species.
  6. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture and discourage weed growth.
  7. Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.
  8. Don't run the hose while washing your car or boat. Clean with a pail of soapy water and use the hose just to rinse off.
  9. Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets, and couplings. Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad since they’re not as visible. But they can be just as wasteful as leaks inside. Check frequently and keep them drip-free.

Remember: Fresh clean drinking water is yours to use whenever you need it, but not to waste. A little effort and a little common sense will make a big difference. Following these tips can save thousands of gallons every year in every household. So be alert. If you see water being wasted, do something to stop it.

USE WATER ... AND USE IT WISELY!