Conservation is an essential tool in managing our diverse supplies of high-quality drinking water it also helps preserve our local aquifers for future generations.
See our tips for simple ways to conserve water.
Indoor Conservation Tips
There are many ways to conserve indoor water. Here are a few guidelines to make your home more water-efficient:
In the Kitchen/Laundry Room
- Equip faucets with aerators
Installing aerators on kitchen and bathroom sinks can reduce indoor water use by up to 4%. - Don’t leave the water running if you hand-wash dishes
Fill the sink or a pail to wash and rinse dishes. - Operate your clothes washer and dishwasher with a full
loads only
You'll save on water and energy costs by waiting until you have a whole load of laundry or dishes. - Replace your clothes washer - the second-highest water user indoors
New high‐efficiency clothes washers can reduce water and energy use by up to 40%. Customers can monitor water usage, check for leaks, and set up alerts for unusual usage through the WaterSmart customer portal. Sign Up today!
In the Bathroom
- Fix toilet leaks
Toilet leaks are easy to identify and fix. Check that the water level in your toilet tank
is not above the overflow tube; the water level should be about an inch below the top of the tube. Also, check your toilet flapper for proper seating and wear. Over time, the flapper in your toilet tank becomes worn and does not work effectively to stop leaks into the toilet bowl. To test for a toilet leak, place a few drops of food coloring or a toilet dye tablet in your tank; wait a few minutes. If the color appears in the bowl, you likely leak. - Replace your old toilet - the highest water user indoors
If your toilet is from 1992 or earlier, you probably have an inefficient model that uses 3.5 gallons per flush or more. Consider replacing it with a new and improved high‐efficiency toilet. These new models use 1.3 gallons per flush or less. We've partnered with EPA who provides a list of water-efficient products. Learn more https://www.epa.gov/watersense/residential-toilets#tab-2. - Shower instead of using the bathtub and take shorter showers
A full bathtub can use 25‐70 gallons of water, while a five‐minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons. If you take a bath, stopper the drain immediately and adjust the temperature as you fill the tub. - Install low‐flow showerheads
Replace older showerheads with new efficient models that use
2.5 gallons per minute or less. Older models can use up to 7 gallons of water per minute and waste thousands monthly. We've partnered with EPA, which provides a list of water-efficient products. Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/showerheads. - Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving
Remember that a typical faucet uses 2 gallons per minute.
Helpful Conservation Links
Here are some links to sites with more information to help you conserve water: