• Clothes Washer
    Purchase Energy Star rated washers – they use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. To conserve even more water and energy, only wash full loads of laundry.
  • Dishwashers
    Running a full load of dishes should save water over washing dishes by hand.
  • Hot Water
    To reduce the amount of water wasted while waiting for the water to get hot, wrap your hot water pipes with insulation material or install an under the sink instant water heater.
  • Kiddy Pool
    Instead of letting kids run through the sprinkler, buy them a kiddy pool.
  • Outdoor Watering
    Water your lawn during early morning hours to minimize evaporation, and avoid watering your sidewalk or driveway. Do not leave the hose running continuously; use a nozzle instead. Consider a soaker hose that applies water directly to the soil. Also, consider installing an underground irrigation system.
  • Running Water
    Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.
  • Showers
    Save water by taking showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while a 10 minute shower uses only 25 gallons or less. If you have an old shower head, replace it with a new 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm) shower head. Consider placing a bucket in the shower to collect excess water that you can use to water plants.
  • Softeners
    Install water softeners only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation.
  • Toilets
    Consider replacing your toilet if your house was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced. It is very likely that you do not have an efficient 1.6 gallons per flush toilet. If you have an older toilet, fill a plastic bottle with water and add pebbles or sand for weight. When placed in the tank, the bottle will allow less water to fill the tank, which helps conserve water. Do not use a brick as it may flake and clog valves. Avoid flushing your toilet unnecessarily. Place tissues, bugs, and other such waste in the trash.