Conservation Tips for Your Home

Bathroom

Where over half of all water use inside a house takes place:

Do not let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth.
Take short showers instead of tub baths; turn off the water while soaping or shampooing.
If you must use a tub, close the drain before turning on the water and fill the tub only half full.
Never use your toilet as a waste basket.

Simple practices that save lots of water:

Keep drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin; use a vegetable brush.
Do not use water to defrost frozen foods; thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.
Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.

Homes with high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and appliances save about 30% of indoor water use and yield savings on water, sewer, and energy bills:

Replace existing toilets with high-efficiency and dual flush toilets and/or install water displacement devices. Find more information on rebates.
Install low-flow kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators and showerheads which are available for free at the City Hall Public Works counter. Bring in your old showerhead and receive a low-flow one in exchange.
Purchase a high-efficiency clothes washer which can save over 50% in laundry water and energy use.
Repair all leaks! A leaking toilet can waste up to 300 gallons of water each day. Free toilet leak detection tablets are available at the City Hall Public Works counter. A dripping faucet or shower head can waste up to 1,000 gallons per week. Also, pick up a free Practical Plumbing Handbook to learn how to fix those leaks!