Much of Arizona is in the Sonoran Desert, and all of
Arizona has suffered a drought over the past several
years. Conserve water with these helpful tips from
SRP (Salt River Project).
For more water saving tips, visit Water - Use It Wisely.
#1. There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.
#2. When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while
rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
#3. Evaporative coolers require a seasonal maintenance checkup.
For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler annually.
#4. Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only
your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
#5. Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and
you could save 1000 gallons a month.
#6. Avoid planting turf
in areas that are hard to water such as steep inclines and isolated strips
along sidewalks and driveways.
#7. Install covers on pools and
spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
#8. Use the garbage
disposal sparingly. Compost instead and save gallons every time.
#9. Plant during the spring or fall when the watering requirements are
lower.
#10. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead
of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you not
the drain.
#11. Check your water meter and bill to track your
water usage.
#12. Minimize evaporation by watering during the
early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
#13. Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially
filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
#14.
Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save
hundreds of gallons of water a year.
#15. Use a broom instead
of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk and save up to 80 gallons
of water every time.
#16. If your shower can fill a one-gallon
bucket in less than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient
showerhead.
#17. Collect the water you use for rinsing produce
and reuse it to water houseplants.
#18. Divide your watering
cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption
every time you water.
#19. We're more likely to notice leaky
faucets indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and
hoses for leaks.
#20. Periodically check your pool for leaks
if you have an automatic refilling device.
#21. Only water your
lawn when needed. You can tell this by simply walking across your lawn.
If you leave footprints, it's time to water.
#22. When you shop
for a new appliance, consider one offering cycle and load size adjustments.
They are more water and energy-efficient than older appliances.
#23. Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You'll save up to 1000
gallons a month.
#24. Install low-volume toilets.
#25. Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades root
systems and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn.
#26. When you clean your fish tank, use the water you've drained on your
plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with
a free and effective fertilizer.
#27. Use the sprinkler for
larger areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
#28. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet
bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and you can save more than 600
gallons a month.
#29. Plug the bathtub before turning the water
on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
#30. Use
porous materials for walkways and patios to keep water in your yard and
prevent wasteful runoff.
#31. Direct downspouts and other runoff
towards shrubs and trees, or collect and use for your garden.
#32. Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut
down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.
#33. Water
your summer lawns once every three days and your winter lawn once every
five days.
#34. Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic
sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering.
#35. Don't use
running water to thaw food.
#36. Choose a water-efficient drip
irrigation system for landscaping. Watering at the roots is very effective
but be careful not to over water.
#37. Grab a wrench and fix
that leaky faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a
week.
#38. Reduce the amount of grass in your yard by planting
shrubs, and ground cover with rock and granite mulching.
#39.
When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
#40. Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.
#41. Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically
for leaks and keep the heads in good shape.
#42. Before you
lather up, install a low-flow showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to
install, and can save your family more than 500 gallons a week.
#43. Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you
scrape them clean.
#44. Don't water your lawn on windy days.
After all, sidewalks and driveways don't need water.
#45. Water
your plants deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger
landscapes.
#46. Make sure you know where your master water
shut-off valve is located. This could save gallons of water and damage
to your home if a pipe were to burst.
#47. When watering grass
on steep slopes, use a soaker hose to prevent wasteful runoff.
#48. Group plants with the same watering needs together to get the most
out of your watering time.
#49. Remember to weed your lawn and
garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light,
and water.
#50. While fertilizers promote plant growth, they
also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer
needed.
#51. Avoid installing ornamental water features and
fountains that spray water into the air. Trickling or cascading fountains
lose less water to evaporation.
#52. Use a commercial car wash
that recycles water.
#53. Don't buy recreational water toys
that require a constant flow of water.
#54. Turn off the water
while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons
a week for a family of four.
#55. Buy a rain gauge to track
how much rain or irrigation your yard receives. Check with your local water
agency to see how much rain is needed to skip an irrigation cycle.
#56. Encourage your school system and local government to help develop
and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults.
#57. Teach your family how to shut off your automatic watering systems.
Turn sprinklers off if the system is malfunctioning or when a storm is
approaching.
#58. Set a kitchen timer to help you keep track
of watering. A running hose can discharge 400 gallons of water an hour.
#59. Make sure your toilet flapper doesn't stick open after
flushing.
#60. Make sure there are aerators on all of your faucets.
#61. Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose
a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550
gallons each year.
#62. Install an instant water heater on your
kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up.
This will also reduce heating costs for your household.
#63.
Use a grease pencil to mark the water level of your pool at the skimmer.
Check the mark 24 hours later. Your pool should lose no more than 1/4 inch
each day.
#64. Cut back on rinsing if your dishwasher is new.
Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
#65. Use
a screwdriver as a soil probe to test soil moisture. If it goes in easily,
don't water. Proper lawn watering can save thousands of gallons of water
annually.
#66. Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass.
Once established, ryegrass needs water every three to five days, whereas
dormant Bermuda grass needs water only once a month.
#67. Do
one thing each day that will save water. Even if savings are small, every
drop counts.
#68. When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler
in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
#69. Make sure
your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculating
pumps.
#70. Bathe your young children together.
#71.
Landscape with Xeriscape trees, plants and groundcovers. Call your local
conservation office for more information about these water thrifty plants.
#72. Winterize outdoor spigots when temps dip to 20 degrees
F to prevent pipes from bursting or freezing.
#73. Insulate
hot water pipes so you don't have to run as much water to get hot water
to the faucet.
#74. Wash your car on the grass. This will water
your lawn at the same time.
#75. Drop your tissue in the trash
instead of flushing it and save gallons every time.
#76. If
you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to a flowerbed,
tree, or your lawn.
#77. Make suggestions to your employer to
save water (and dollars) at work.
#78. Support projects that
use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and other uses.
#79.
Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while you wash your car and save
more than 100 gallons.
#80. Encourage your friends and neighbors
to be part of a water-conscious community.
#81. If your toilet
was installed prior to 1980, place a toilet dam or bottle filled with water
in your toilet tank to cut down on the amount of water used for each flush.
Be sure these devices do not interfere with operating parts.
#82. Install water softening systems only when necessary. Save water and
salt by running the minimum number of regenerations necessary to maintain
water softness.
#83. Wash clothes only when you have a full
load and save up to 600 gallons each month.
#84. Leave lower
branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on top
of the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
#85. Pick-up the phone and report significant water losses from broken
pipes, open hydrants and errant sprinklers to the property owner or your
water management district.
#86. Bermuda grasses are dormant
(brown) in the winter and will only require water once every three to four
weeks or less if it rains.
#87. Start a compost pile. Using
compost when you plant adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
#88. Use sprinklers that throw big drops of water close to the ground.
Smaller drops of water and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.
#89. Listen for dripping faucets and toilets that flush themselves.
Fixing a leak can save 500 gallons each month.
#90. More plants
die from over-watering than from under-watering. Be sure only to water
plants when necessary.
#91. Cook food in as little water as
possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
#92.
Adjust your watering schedule to the season and save 30-50% on landscape
watering each year.
#93. Turn the water off while you shampoo
and condition your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week.
#94. Bathe your pets outdoors in an area in need of water.
#95.
Choose new water-saving appliances, like washing machines that save up
to 20 gallons per load.
#96. Water only as rapidly as the soil
can absorb the water.
#97. Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in
your lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than
run off the surface.
#98. Select the proper size pans for cooking.
Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
#99. To determine watering time, place an empty tuna can on your lawn to
catch and measure the water output of your sprinklers. For lawn watering
advice, contact your local conservation office.
#100. Turn off
the water while you shave and you can save more than 100 gallons a week.
