WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES
With the drought in the west, practice water conservation - here are some tips:
Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator to stay cold, rather than running tap water until it gets cold.
Keep a bucket in your shower area so you can catch water as you wait for it to warm up - then use it for your plants,
or pour the it into the toilet after flushing so it need not have to refill completely, or refill the dog bowl, or water plants.
Stop the water flow while soaping up or while brushing teeth or shaving.
Keep some frozen gallon jugs in the freezer in the case that water restrictions come up - you might need it for an emergency.
Water your lawn less often.
Fix water leaks - test your toilets with a few drops of food color and see if
the color disappears after while - then you know there is a leak.
Buy water saving products - low flow toilets, low flow shower restrictors,
low usage washing machines and dishwashers. Install
an tankless water heater - no need to run water until it gets hot - it's heated instanteneously.
Put a brick or two in your toilet tank to keep the amount of water down.
Flush less often - my friend tells me her motto is "yellow is mellow, brown is down."
Catch the gutter run off when it rains and use it for watering the garden or other needs.
Try to use more zero-scaping in your yards - more rock or bark and less grass.
If you have a pool or hot tub, cover it to prevent evaporation.
Turn off the sprinkler system when there is rain.
Forget the "running through the sprinklers" activity unless it's during your
normal watering times. Remind kids there are other fun ways to enjoy their day.
Water your lawn after 7 or 8 pm, or be done before 9 am. Watering during midday is
wasteful, as much water will evaporate as it sprays. It will help the capacity load as well.
Don't hose off dirt on the walk or driveway - use a broom.
Use a bucket when washing your car, not the hose.
Don't spray down your sidewalks, driveway and home. Use a broom to clean.
Fix any leaks around the house. Make sure there are no drips.
Adjust your sprinklers to spray only on plants, not on the sidewalk or street. If
it misses a portion, you can water with a hose for a minute or so.
Use zeriscaping in your garden - not neccesarily just rocks and cactus - use plants tha survive
in low water areas. Using plants will keep your home cooler than rocks. Use a
breathable ground sheeting (not plastic) to cover the dirt, and use fine mulch on top -
it retains water better.
Use common sense and figure out where you waste it, then plan accordingly.
