How to Conserve Water

Always turn taps off tightly so they do not drip.

Promptly repair any leaks in and around your taps.

Use an aerator and/or a water flow-reducer attachment on your tap to reduce your water usage.

When hand-washing dishes, never run water continuously. Wash dishes in a partially filled sink and then rinse them using the spray attachment on your tap.

If you have an electric dishwasher, use it only to wash full loads, and use the shortest cycle possible. Many dishwashers have a conserver/water-miser cycle.

When brushing your teeth, turn the water off while you are actually brushing. Use short bursts of water for cleaning your brush. (This saves about 80% of the water normally used.)

When washing or shaving, partially fill the sink and use that water rather than running the tap continuously. (This saves about 60% of the water normally used.) Use short bursts of water to clean razors.

Use either low-flow shower heads or adjustable flow-reducer devices on your shower heads. (They reduce flow by at least 25%.)

You can reduce water usage by 40% to 50% by installing low-flush toilets.

Wash only full loads in your washing machine.

Use the shortest cycle possible for washing clothes, and use the "suds-saver" feature if your machine has one.

Water lawns every three to five days, rather than for a short period every day.

Water during the cool part of the day, in the morning or evening. Do not water on windy days.

Do not over-water in anticipation of a shortage. Soil cannot store extra water.