Water Wise Tips
Saving water is an important step in making sure there is enough water now and for future generations. Reducing water use inside and outside our homes is really important. Please take a moment to review the following water wise tips to help save our most precious resource – WATER!
Here's how you can help: Explore the sections below for indoor and outdoor conservation tips, typical household water use, and quick ways to save every day.
Indoor Tips
*Prevent water waste by checking for leaks in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas. Look for worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves and fix as soon as possible.
Kitchen
- While waiting for the tap water to heat up, capture the cool water in a bucket to use later for cooking or watering plants. Saves 2 or more gallons per minute.
- Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables or wash them in a small pan of water instead of running the tap. Use leftover water to water plants.
- Don't use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator.
- Fill a pitcher of tap water and place it in your refrigerator.
- If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
- Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead place unwanted food items in the garbage.
- Scrape dirty dishes and/or pans instead of running water to rinse them off before placing them in the dishwasher.
- Run the dishwasher only when full to save water and energy. Saves 3 to 8 gallons per load.
- Wash dishes in a plastic bowl in the sink and use that water on your plants.
- Instead of throwing ice into your sink, use it on plants or in your garden.
- Serve meals from pots instead of a serving dish. Saves washing an extra dish.
Bathroom
- Turn off the tap when brushing teeth, washing your face or shaving. Saves 2 gallons or more per minute.
- Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor. Save: Up to 300 gallons a month.
- When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
- Check for toilet leaks using a toilet dye tab at ETWD or food coloring in the tank (not red). Saves thousands of gallons per year.
- Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket. Saves 1 to 6 gallons per flush depending on your toilet.
- Install a high-efficiency or premium high efficiency toilet. Saves 38 gallons per toilet per day.
- Take 5 minute showers instead of 10 minute showers. Save 2.5 gallons per minute.
- Turn off the water while washing your hair. Save: Up to 150 gallons a month.
- Recycle shower water by capturing it in a bucket to water plants.
- Take a (short) shower instead of a bath. A bathtub can use up to 70 gallons or more.
- Fill bathtubs halfway or less when giving children a bath.
- Install low-flow showerheads. Saves 2.5 gallons per minute or 750 gallons per month.
Laundry
- Wash only full loads of laundry. Saves 30 gallons per load.
- Install a water-efficient clothes washer.
For more water saving tips, please visit:
Outdoor Tips
*Prevent water waste by checking for leaks in the irrigation system like broken sprinkler heads and other leaking valves and fix as soon as possible.
*During drought conditions – please follow current ETWD guidelines listed under the drought section.
- When it is raining, turn your irrigation system off and for at least 48 hours after.
- Water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler (ETWD restricts watering 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways, sidewalks and patios. Saves up to 150 gallons each time.
- Water deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes.
- Don't overwater – create a customized watering schedule using the Watering Calculator.
- Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered.
- Check your sprinkler system for leaks, overspray and broken sprinkler heads. Saves up to 500 gallons per month.
- Use an automatic shutoff nozzle on your hose to wash your vehicle. Saves 150 gallons each time.
- Use a carwash that recycles water.
- Retrofit your irrigation system with water efficient technology like rotating nozzles and drip irrigation.
- Install a smart sprinkler controller. Saves up to 40 gallons per day.
- Replace high water using plants with native, drought-resistant plants.
- Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation.
For more water saving tips, please visit:
Water Use for Common Household Activities
| Activity | Typical Use |
| Brushing Teeth | 3 gallons per day |
| Shower | 40 gallons / 10 minutes |
| Bath | 20 gallons |
| Toilet | 28 gallons / day / person |
| Clothes Washer | 45 gallons / load |
| Cooking | 5 gallons / day |
| Dishwasher | 15 gallons / load |
| Landscape | 350 gallons / day |
| Hosing Driveway | 150 gallons |
| Car Washing | 150 gallons |
Ways to Save Water
Have you ever been interested in knowing what you can do to save water, but weren't sure how to go about it? Here are some tips to help you out.
- Water your lawn only when it needs it. Saves 750 to 1500 gallons per month.
- Fix or report leaky faucets, running toilets, or sprinkler problems. Saves at least 20 gallons per day per leak.
- Don't run the hose while washing your car. Saves 150 gallons each time.
- Install water-saving shower heads and Ultra Low-Flush Toilets. Saves 500 to 800 gallons per month.
- Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Saves 300 to 800 gallons per month.
- Shorten your shower time. Saves up to 700 gallons per month.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
- Don't use your toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Saves 400 to 600 gallons per month.
- Capture tap water while waiting for hot water. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.
- Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Saves 200 to 300 gallons a month.