Water Conservation Tips

OUTDOOR TIPS

Water piped for residential use often goes toward the care of lawns and gardens.  As more water is used outdoors, more water is wasted.  Yet it is possible to conserve water and still maintain a healthy lawn.

          --Check for leaks in outdoor faucets, pipes and hoses.  Even slight drips
            can add up to many gallons of wasted water.

          --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, it needs water.

          --Avoid watering on windy days.  Wind will carry water away from its'
            intended area.  Water during the coolest part of the day, generally early
            morning, to avoid excess evaporation and to help prevent the
            growth of fungus.

          --Deep-soak your lawn when you do water.  Give the grass ample
            moisture to penetrate down to the roots where it will do the most good.

          --Don't water the gutter.  Position your sprinklers so water lands on the
            lawn or garden, not on paved areas.

          --Plant drought resistant trees, plants, and lawn grass.  Many beautiful
            trees and plants thrive with far less watering than other species.

          --Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants.  Mulch will slow the
            evaporation of moisture and discourage weed growth.

          --Do not permit children with the hose or sprinkler.

          --Do not use a constant stream of water when washing the car.  Wash
            from a bucket of soapy water, using the hose only to rinse.  Wash less
            frequently during dry, hot weather.

          --Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.

Source:  Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, July 1998

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BATHROOM

The most substantial reduction in personal water use can be made in the bathroom.  Two-thirds of the water used in the average home is used in the bathroom, because many people take long showers or flush the toilet unnecessarily.  Water conservation not only saves water, it saves energy used to heat the water.

          --Check the toilet for leaks.  Put a few drops of food coloring in your
            toilet tank.  If, without flushing the color begins to appear in the bowl,
            you know you have a leak that needs to be repaired.

          --Don't use the toilet for disposing of cigarette butts or other trash.  Use
            the garbage can.  Every flush uses five to seven gallons of water.

          --To cut down on water used with each flush, put plastic bottles filled
            with sand in your toilet tank.  Place them safely away from the
            operating mechanism.  (Do not use bricks, which disintegrate after a
            while and damage the mechanism.)

          --When replacing fixtures, install water conserving models.  The price is
            about the same.

          --Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors.  Your local
            hardware or plumbing supply stores stock inexpensive water-saving
            shower heads or restrictors that are easy to install.

          --Limit the length of showers to two or three minutes.  Consider tuning
            the shower off while you soap up and turn it on again only to rinse.

          --Rinse your razor in a few inches of water in the sink, rather than under
            running water.

          --Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.  Use only enough water to
            wet the brush and rinse your mouth.

          --Teach children to turn faucets off tightly after use.

          --Check faucets and pipes for leaks.  Even a small leak can waste
            thousands of gallons per month.  Keep faucet washers in good shape
            or use washerless faucets.
 

Source:  Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, July 1998

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KITCHENS AND LAUNDRY

Water is a valuable, fundamental resource that should not be wasted.  Eventually it will recycle itself, but the clean water used in homes has imitations.  If each person uses only what is needed, the natural water supply will always be adequate.

          --Use your automatic dishwasher and automatic washing machine only
            for full loads, never for just a few items.

          --If you wash dishes by hand, don't leave the water running continuously
            for rinsing.  Fill one side of the sink with clean water for rinsing, or put
            the washed dishes in a rack and rinse them all at once with a spray
            attachment or a pan of hot water.

          --Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables.  Fill the sink or a
            pan with clean water to rinse.  keep a bottle of drinking water in the
            refrigerator.  Running the tap to cool the water for drinking is wasteful
            and the refrigerator water will be colder and more refreshing.  Check
            faucets and pipes for leaks.  Even a small leak can waste thousands of
            gallons in a month.

          --Re-use water that vegetables are washed in for watering houseplants or
            for cleaning.

          --Reduce the use of the garbage disposal, which requires a great deal of
            water for operation.  Dispose of food scraps and peelings in the trash
            container or use food waste in a garden compost pile.

          --Install flow restrictors in faucets.

          --Keep faucet washers in good shape or use washerless faucets.

Source:  Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, July 1998

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