With the Dog Days of summer still in full swing, the sweltering days aren’t over yet. This may mean you have the sprinklers running more or you’re using the hose to fill up a kiddie pool in the backyard. Whatever the reason, early August often sees the greatest water usages all over the country- sometimes even three to five times the amount of winter water usage. To help you save some water (and some money) this season, we’ve compiled this list of water conservation tips!
Indoors:
- Repair leaky faucets- indoors and out.
- If it’s time for an upgrade, consider looking for toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines that are meant to save water.
- Peel and clean fruits and veggies in a bowl of water instead of under running water.
- Only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
- If you hand wash dishes, do not let the water run continuously for rinsing.
- Store drinking water in the fridge to avoid running the water every time you want a cool glass of water.
- Only run full loads of laundry.
- Take short showers- about 5 minutes or less if you can.
- Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth, shaving, or soaping up in the shower.
- Your toilet could be leaking without you knowing. Try adding a few drops of food coloring to the water tank but do not flush. If after about 15 minutes the coloring appears in the bowl, your toilet has a leak.
Outdoors:
- Choose plants for your garden that don’t need as much water or are labeled as drought resistant.
- Place mulch around trees and plants to help with water retention in the soil.
- Only water your lawn when necessary. Early morning or late evening when the temperatures are cooler, and wind is lighter are best.
- If you have timers for your irrigation system, make sure they are adjusted to accommodate changes in seasonal weather demands.
- To help grass survive drought, do not cut it too short. Longer grass will shade the soil, improving water retention and allowing a deeper root system to develop
- If you have a pool, use a cover to reduce evaporation.
- Use a broom to clean your paved areas instead of the garden hose.
- When washing your car, use a bucket and a hose with a shut-off nozzle for a quick final rinse. You can even wash your car in your lawn to water it at the same time.
Whatever changes you decide to make in your water usage, every drop matters.