Every drop counts! : watching water wasters [Elec Text]

Watching Water Wasters
Check for toilet leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other similar waste in the trash.
Replace your showerhead with an ultra low-flow version, saving up to 2.5 gallons per minute.
In the shower, instead of increasing the hot or cold water flow to adjust the water temperature, try decreasing the flow to achieve a comfortable water temperature.
Don't let the water run while shaving, washing your face, or brushing your teeth.
Minimize the use of kitchen sink disposals; they require a lot of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste.
Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run to get a cool glass of water.
Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.
When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow stream of water from the faucet. Use the dirty water to run your sink disposal if necessary.
Fully load automatic dishwashers; they use the same amount of water no matter how much is in them.
Unlike your dishwasher, the amount of water your washing machine uses is adjustable; adjust according to the load size.
Buy water saving washing machines. Horizontal loading machines use less water than top-loading machines.
Install a hot water recirculation device. By recirculating water that would otherwise go down the drain, you can save 2-3 gallons of water per shower or 16,500 gallons a year per household.
Never install a water-to-air heat pump or airconditioning system. Air-to-air models are just as efficient and do not waste water.
Install water-softening systems only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary. Turn softeners off while on vacation.

Verify that your home is leak free. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a hidden leak.
Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water.
Don't over-water your lawn. Generally, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer. Buy a rain gauge to see how much water your yard gets.
Water lawns during early morning hours to reduce losses from evaporation and position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs, not on paved areas.
Teach your family how to shut off automatic systems so they can turn them off when storms are coming.
Raise your lawn mower blade to at least 3 inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than closely-clipped lawns.
Avoid overfertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water and is a source of water pollution.
Mulch to retain soil moisture and control weeds.
Plant native and/or drought-tolerant plants. Group plants together based on similar water needs.
Minimize the grass areas in your yard because less grass means less water.
Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk; use a broom instead saving hundreds of gallons of water.
Check all hoses, connectors and spigots regularly. Replace or add washers if you find leaks.
If you have a pool, consider a new water-saving pool filter. A single backflushing with a traditional filter uses from 180 to 250 gallons of water.
Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. If you wash your own car, park it on the grass, use a bucket with soapy water, turn off the water while soaping, and use a hose with a pressure nozzle to decrease rinsing time.