Kitchen & Laundry

No Cost or Low Cost Tips

Long Term Investment Ideas

1. Run dish and clothes washers only when full.
2. Don’t rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher and save up to 75 liters per load. It does not improve cleaning.
3. Use the rinse and hold feature, which requires only 3 liters.
4. Wash small numbers of dishes by hand in a sink full of water and spray rinse in a rack.
5. Wash fresh vegetables and fruits in a bowl full of water not under a running tap.
6. Use some of your kitchen wastewater on houseplants.
7. Steam your vegetables. You’ll use less water and also retain more vitamins.
8. Chill drinking water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap until it flows cold.

1. Make sure your next dishwasher is a water-saving model to cut water use by up to 50%.
2. Make sure your next clothes washer is a water-saving model to cut water use by as much as 33%.

Bathroom

No Cost or Low Cost Tips

Long Term Investment Ideas

1. Find and fix any toilet leaks. Put food dye in the tank and if it appears in the bowl after a few minutes there is a leak.
2. Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket.
3. Displace some of the water in toilet tanks with plastic bottles full of water. This is not necessary in low-flow models.
4. Install early closing flapper valves in older toilets.
5. Turn off the faucet when brushing teeth and save 2 or more gallons per minute.
6. Install low-flow shower heads and taps.

1. Replace older toilets with low-flow models. Most work very well and use less than half the water required by older models.
2. Insulate your water heater and all hot-water pipes so that you waste less water and time waiting for the hot water to flow.

Garden

No Cost or Low Cost Tips

Long Term Investment Ideas

1. Add compost or peat moss to soil to improve its water holding capacity.
2. Mulch beds to a depth of 2” to 3” to reduce evaporation.
3. Add polymer crystals to potted plants to improve absorbency.
4. Choose drought tolerant plants whenever possible.

1. Install a drip irrigation system for flowers and shrubs.
2. Develop a landscaping plan that uses drought tolerant plants.

Recreation

No Cost or Low Cost Tips

Long Term Investment Ideas

1. Use a swimming pool cover to reduce evaporation.
2. Fill your pool a few inches lower than its full capacity.
3. Avoid water toys that need a constant stream of water.
4. Use fountains and similar yard ornaments that recycle water.

1. Ensure your next pool filter is one that uses less water. Some new filters waste no water at all.

Lawn, Patio & Driveway

No Cost or Low Cost Tips

1. Fix or replace leaky hoses and hose connections.
2. Outfit all hoses with automatic shutoff nozzles.
3. Adjust hose attachments and sprinklers to emit large drops rather than fine spray to reduce evaporation.
4. Use a sprinkler timer to avoid over watering.
5. Position sprinklers to avoid watering driveways and walkways.
6. Hand water as much as possible to reduce usage by up to 33%.
7. Water at the coolest time of day to reduce evaporation.
8. Do not water when it is windy to reduce evaporation.
9. Cut grass to not less than 3” high to encourage deep roots, shade the soil and reduce moisture loss.
10. Sweep rather than hose to clean driveways, walkways and steps.