Tips & Tricks

How much water do you use? Saving water indoors is a matter of changing a few habits! It takes one month of doing these things to make them a routine in your life. These simple changes help conserve our water and insure adequate supply for the future

• Fix those leaks! Leaks can account for 10 percent or more of the water bill. For example, a toilet with a silent leak can waste 3,000 or more gallons per month! To test for a leak, place a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet into the back tank. Wait about 10 minutes, and if dye appears in the toilet bowl, the toilet has a silent leak. The most common cause is faulty flappers, leaking refill valves, or poorly sized replacement parts. If unsure, consult a licensed plumber for repairs.
• Laundry: Only wash full loads! If you must wash partial loads, match the load setting with the amount of laundry to be washed and use the shortest cycle possible. Better yet, replace washer with more water-efficient model. High-efficiency washers use 35 to 55 percent less water and require less detergent, rinse more efficiently and can fit larger capacity loads in the same size drums.
• Replace older appliances with newer water-efficient models.
• Take shorter showers with low-flow shower head instead of tub bath. A 10-minute shower typically uses 25 gallons, a full tub can use 50 or more gallons.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving. Most faucets run at 2 gallons per minute - you save 10 gallons in five minutes! A WaterSense Labeled Bathroom Faucet Fact Sheet is also available.
• Washing Dishes: Only run dishwasher with full load. Newer dishwashers typically use 7 gallons per load. Scrape dishes instead of rinsing in the sink if they are being washed in the dishwasher. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with soapy water and one with rinse water instead of letting the water run continuously.