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Water Conservation Tips
Water conservation helps our communities save money and extend our water supplies. Households and businesses can reduce their own costs and help preserve the environment by using water as efficiently as possible. The following links provide tips for taking action:
Always remember that Low Flow is the way to go!
In the event of an earthquake or other disaster, normal water delivery to your home or business may be disrupted for several days. Here are a few simple tips to better prepare for an unexpected interruption in water service:
- The general rule for adequate emergency water supply for drinking and food preparation is one gallon per person per day. Store potable water in clean, airtight containers in a dark, cool place. You should include additional water storage for pets and bathing/hygiene.
- Store enough water for a minimum of three to five days for each member of your household, including pets.
- Label each container with a date and replace potable water every six months. Pre-packaged bottled water should be replaced once a year.
- If you have concerns about your water quality, at the time of usage add 16 drops of bleach to each gallon of water. Use pure household bleach only (not products with scents or other additives). Mix and allow to stand for 30 minutes to help ensure disinfection.
- In the event you run out of stored drinking water, you can strain the water from your water heater. To strain, pour it through a clean cloth or layers of paper towels. Treat (disinfect) with household bleach as directed above.
- Leaky toilets waste a lot of water! Did you know that your toilet could have a leak that you may not even know about? To test your toilet for "invisible leaks" place a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet into the toilet's tank. Wait a few minutes and if the coloring appears in the bowl, you have a leak!
- A leaky faucet that drips just two tablespoons per minute can waste 15 gallons per day, which is 105 gallons per week and 5,460 per year! So remember - fix those leaks!
- Check your piping system for leaks by turning off all faucets and appliances, and watching the dial on your water meter. If it moves and you have done the first two checks, you have leaks in the piping after the meter. Identify and repair immediately.
- Use a toilet tank dam or water bottle in your toilet tank. This will help displace the water, allowing the toilet to use less water after each flush.
- Install low-flow showerheads or faucet aerators.
- Don't allow the water to run when brushing your teeth. This can waste two gallons of water! Instead, wet your toothbrush, brush your teeth, and then turn the water on again to rinse.
- Use your dishwasher and washing machines only for full loads!
- Keep a pitcher of tap water in the refrigerator. Letting the water run to cool off is wasteful.
- Don't wash sidewalks, driveways, patios, and so on. Use a broom or vacuum.
- While car washing, use a shut-off nozzle on the hose. Wash with a bucket of soapy water, and then rinse with the spray nozzle.
- Don't water the street, sidewalk, and gutter when you sprinkle the shrubs and lawn.
- Don't use water to keep dust down. Consider gravel or paving instead.
- Water your lawn only when it needs it! A good way to determine if your lawn needs watering is to step on it. If it springs back up, no watering is needed. If it remains flat, time to water!
- Only water your lawn in the early morning or late afternoon. Watering during the middle of the day allows the majority of the water to evaporate and can cause burned grass. Watering at night attracts bugs, mostly those unwanted mosquitoes!
- Don't water when it's windy! Your water will go everywhere but your lawn! Also, make sure the sprinkler is aimed at your lawn, not the street or sidewalk - they don't need to grow!
- Use a broom instead of the hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk.
- Install a trigger nozzle on your outside hose. This will allow the water to be automatically turned off when the hose is not in use.