There are a number of easy ways to save water, and they all start with YOU. When you save water, you save money on your utility bills. Here are just a few ways...
WATER SAVING TIPS
- Nearly twice as much water is used in the summer months as in winter months, with lawn watering being the biggest reason for the increase.
- Here are some tips for indoor and outdoor conservation that may contribute to lower water consumption and a lower water bill for you!
INSIDE THE HOUSE
- Test toilets for leaks. Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the tank, but do not flush the toilet. Watch to see if the coloring appears in the bowl within a few minutes. If it does, the toilet has a silent leak that needs to be repaired.
- When brushing teeth, turn the water off until it’s time to rinse.
- Only run your dishwasher and clothes washer when you have a full load.
- Use a small pan of cold water when washing vegetables, rather than letting the water run over them.
- Steam vegetables, rather than boiling – steaming uses less water.
- Check often for water leaks. Turn off all water-using appliances and indoor and outdoor faucets, and then check the leak-detector triangle on your meter. If it is turning even slightly, water is leaking out somewhere.
OUTSIDE THE HOUSE
- Water only when needed. Look at the grass, feel the soil, or use a soil moisture meter to determine when to water.
- Do not over-water. Soil can absorb only so much moisture, and the rest simply runs off. One and a half inches of water applied once a week in the summer will keep most Texas grasses alive and healthy.
- Water lawns early in the morning during the hotter summer months. Otherwise, much of the water can simply evaporate before it ever hits the ground.
- Avoid misting sprinklers – the water has a greater tendency to evaporate with misters.
- Set automatic sprinklers to provide thorough, but infrequent watering. Rain shutoff devices can prevent watering in the rain.
- Use drip irrigation systems for bedded plants to avoid evaporation.
- Do not scalp lawns when mowing during hot weather. Taller grass holds moisture better.
- Use water-wise plants. Choose plants that have low water requirements, are drought-tolerant, and are adapted to the area of the state where they are to be planted.
- When washing the car, use a bucket of soapy water and turn on the hose only for rinsing.
- Remove weeds before they get large. They not only look bad but are also water thieves, stealing precious water from desirable plants.
- Mulch around trees and gardens to discourage weed growth and reduce evaporation.
- Make the most of rainfall. Dig ditches to plants under roof eaves to allow rainwater to irrigate them. A deep moisture reserve can sometimes carry them through several weeks before more water is needed.
