Indoors

• Fix leaky toilets and fixtures as soon as they are detected
• Take quick showers rather than full-tub baths
• Don’t run the water while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your face
• Stopper the sink when rinsing fruits and vegetables
• Run your dishwasher and washing machine only with full loads
• Use proper water level settings for laundry
• Install on demand hot water dispenser
• Install low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators
• Consider a re-circulating hot water system
• When replacing washer, consider a front load unit (uses 30% less water and 50% less energy than a top load unit)
• Flush toilets and use garbage disposals only when necessary
• Check your water meter monthly for possible leaks
• Use water remaining in drinking glasses to water plants
• Perform maintenance on water heater annually

Outdoors

• When washing cars, use a nozzle that turns off automatically
• Use drought-tolerant plants in the garden
• Know where your master water shut off valve is located and show everyone in the household
• Test the water shut off valve frequently to ensure it works
• Position sprinklers so they are not spraying the house, sidewalks, street or driveway
• Don’t water when it is windy
• Maintain your sprinkler system as it suffers from normal wear and tear, which reduces the efficiency
• Sweep rather than hose off sidewalks, patios, decks and driveways
• Cover swimming pools when not in use to prevent evaporation
• Mulch flower beds to keep soil cooler and reduce water loss
• Turn off sprinkler systems during cool or rainy weather
• Contact your water service district for a personalized irrigation schedule
• Check pressure-regulating valve

Every Drop Counts

Drip. Drip. Drip. Many people consider a leaky faucet a mere annoyance. But if every household in America and Canada had a faucet that dripped once each second, 928 million gallons of water a day would leak away, according to the American Water Works Association.

That’s a lot, considering the AWWA predicts the average household uses approximately 146,000 gallons of water each year. But water is wasted in more ways than through a leaky faucet. Mr. Rooter® has some helpful household hints to keep you from wasting water.

For those who insist on rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, wash them in a basin of cold water rather than under a running faucet of hot water. Be vigilant about turning off the water when shaving or brushing your teeth. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full.

Water can also be wasted because of a lack of maintenance. Check all the faucets, hoses and appliances that use water in your house for leaks and drips.

Finally, examine your toilets — they account for almost 30 percent of all indoor water use, and most of the time they are the biggest culprits of wasting water. Just by listening you can tell if your toilet is running, but to check the water level, you’ll have to open the toilet tank.

If you are willing to spend the money on a new toilet it will actually save you money each month on water and wastewater bills. An ultra low-flow toilet requires only 1.6 gallons of water per flush compared to toilets made before 1994 that use 3.5 to 7 gallons for each flush. By replacing your toilet, you could save 7,900 to 21,700 gallons of water a year.