Outdoors

• Water your lawn every third day during cool times to minimize evaporation. Early morning is best (4 a.m. - 8 a.m.), and peak water consumption hours (4 p.m. - 9 p.m.) should be avoided.
• Plant with proper landscape design and irrigation. Select plants appropriate for local climate conditions. Check with your nursery for the best plants.
• Adjust sprinklers to water the lawn and not the house, sidewalk or street. Do not water on windy days.
• Check and maintain your sprinkler system regularly. Teach your family how to turn off an automatic sprinkler system in case a storm comes up during the sprinkling cycle.
• Use mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and promote plant growth. Water retaining basins allow water to be concentrated around plants.
• Spot water. Drier areas require more water than areas where water settles. If necessary, water dry areas by hand.
• Remove weeds. They rob plants of water and nutrients.
• Raise your mower blade to at least three inches and mow less often to reduce the stress that requires more water.
• Cover your swimming pool to reduce evaporation. An average-sized pool can use about 1,000 gallons of water per month if left uncovered. A pool cover can cut the loss up to 90 percent.

Indoors

• Don’t let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth while waiting for water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin. Bathroom facilities claim nearly 75 percent of the water used inside your home.
• Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you waste 2,700 gallons per year.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Don’t let the tap run while you are waiting for cool water to flow.
• Run your dishwasher and wash clothes only when you have a full load.
• Take a short shower instead of a bath. Baths can use 30 to 50 gallons of water. Showers use 5 gallons of water per minute--less if a flow constrictor is installed.

Learn more about water conservation at these Web sites: