Water Conservation Actions

The following basic daily activities are great ways to conserve water.

Water in cooler temperatures early in the morning (before 10am) or later in the evening (after 8pm), and only water your lawn when necessary.
Adjust your mower to 2-3 inches high, as a taller lawn helps retain soil moisture. Keep your mower blades sharp.
Add a shut-off nozzle to your hose: You can save 5-7 gallons of water each minute your hose is not on.
Attach a rain barrel to your gutter to collect rainwater.
Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean outside living areas (decks, porches, driveways).
Take your car to a car wash that recycles water, rather than washing it at home.

Only wash full loads of laundry and run a full dishwasher.
Take shorter showers. Each minute you shave off your shower time can save up to 2.5 gallons of water.
Install a high efficiency showerhead to save a gallon of water per minute.
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Scrape food into compost bin instead of pre-rinsing dishes.
Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator and wash vegetables in a bowl, rather than under running water.
Fix leaky faucets, toilets, and showerheads, which can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year.
Install an aerator on your bathroom or kitchen faucet that uses air to maintain pressure while reducing water flow.