Water in our region is a valuable natural resource that is always in limited supply. We ask customers to always use water efficiently. Your effort will assist in safeguarding drinking water supply and enhancing the reliability of our water resources.

 Check for Leaks

• Finding and repairing water leaks on your property can save you water, which means you save money.

Outdoors

• Set lawn mower blades one notch higher since longer grass reduces evaporation. Leave grass clippings on your grass, this cools the ground and holds in moisture.
• Mulch, compost and wood chips are reliable, cost-effective products for water retention, erosion control and weed suppression.
• If you have a pool, use a cover to cut down evaporation. This will also keep your pool cleaner and reduce the need to add chemicals.
• Plant drought-tolerant landscaping.
• Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered, and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
• Choose water-efficient drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs, and flowers.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveways and sidewalks, and save up to 80 gallons of water every time you clean.
• Always water during the early morning hours, when temperature are cooler, to minimize evaporation.
• Water deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscape.

Laundry

• When doing the laundry, never wash less than a full load.
• Remove clothes from washer promptly, to avoid having to rinse or wash them a second time.
• If possible, invest in a high-efficiency washer.

In the Bathroom

• While waiting for hot water to come through the pipes, catch the cool, clean, water in a bucket or a watering can. You can use it later to water plants, run your garbage disposer or pour into the toilet bowl to flush.
• Keep your showers down to five minutes or less using a low-flow showerhead.
• Turn the water off while lathering-up in the shower. Then turn the water back on to quickly rinse.
• Take shallow baths, no more than 3 inches of water.
• Replace your older model toilets with new ultra-low-flush models.
• Check your toilets for leaks. Drop a dye tablet or a teaspoon of food coloring (avoid red) in the tank. If color appears in the bowl after 15 minutes, you probably need to replace the "flapper" valve.
• Flush the toilet only when necessary. Never use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save four gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons each week for a family of four.
• Turn off the water while shaving and save. Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. Saves three gallons each day.
• Drop that tissue in the trash instead of flushing it down the toilet and save gallons of water every time.
• Before you lather up, install a low-flow showerhead. They are inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you and your family more than 500 gallons a week.

 In the Kitchen

• Hand wash dishes just once a day using the least amount of detergent possible and a dishpan instead of running water. Use a sprayer or short blasts of water to rinse.
• If you have a dishwasher, run it only when you have a full load.
• Scrape food scraps off dishes into the garbage can, or rinse them off with very short blasts of water.
• Never use hot, running water to defrost frozen foods. Plan ahead and place frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or use the microwave oven.
• Rinse vegetables and fruits in a sink or a pan filled with water instead of under running water.