Water Conservation Tips for 2017

With water droughts becoming more of an issue nationwide, people must do their best to do their past. Conserving water when you don’t need to use it helps everyone out in the long run. Whether you are in an area that is struggling for water or you want to do your part, check out some of these ways to conserve water in 2017!

Two of the more popular places where people use excessive water are in their homes and their yards/gardens.

Water Conservation at Home

• Check for all leaky faucets or pipes
• Don’t use the toilet as trash for random items
• Install water-saving shower heads
• Be aware of the time and take shorter showers
• When brushing your teeth, turn off the sink after wetting your toothbrush
• When shaving, fill your sink with a few inches of water rather than letting it run each time you clean it.
• When using the dishwasher or washer, only use it when you have full loads.
• If you wash dishes by hand, don’t keep the sink running for rinsing
• When cleaning vegetables, don’t let the faucet keep running. Just give them a quick rinse.
• Running tap water to cool it off is a big waste of water. Keep water in your fridge or get a Stonybrook Water dispenser, which connects directly to your water line and immediately dispenses filtered cold water.

Yard & Garden Water Conservation

• Consider planning drought-resistant lawns, shrubs, or plants, as they will require less water.
• Add a layer of mulch around your trees and plants, as it slows the evaporation process and stops weed growth.
• Position your water sprinklers correctly, so you’re not watering the pavement but the stuff that actually needs the water.
• When washing your car, don’t run the hose the whole time. Use the hose only for rinsing!
• When cleaning driveways or sidewalks, use a broom and not a hose.
• Like the inside, check for any leaky faucets or pipes that may be visible from the outside.

Each water conservation tip may not seem like a big deal, but when you when add them all up, you can impact overall water use.

Photo by Matt Barnard