WATER CONSERVATION IMPROVE AWARENESS

Water conservation - act like you are camping, we never use much water camping because there is only a limited amount-same goes for our earth.

Water conservation is a popular isssue. Since it is still an issue we are not doing enough. We first have to acknowledge that we have limited water resources and conserve. If you are not faced with this daily, chances are you don't think about it unless your utilities fail and there is no water. Conservation is a habit like all habits you have to practice a few times before it becomes automatic.

Outdoors
• Designate a small area of your yard to grass instead of the whole yard
• Try not to use sprinklers, most of the water is evaporating especially in dry climates
• Try soaker hoses
• Plant a container garden or raised bed gardens instead of in the ground, also easier on your back
• Use plants that are indigenious to your area that have low water requirements
• Water trees deeply and less often
• If you are take steps inside the house, your water requirements outside will be less
• Use a car wash to wash your car where they use recycled water or wash your car on your lawn
• Repair outside hose bibs that are leaking, you will also deter termites due to a lack of a water source
• Designate a small area of your yard to grass instead of the whole yard, worth repeating
• Sweep your sidewalks and driveways instead of hosing them off
• Cover pools and spas to prevent evaporation
• Maintain evaporative coolers-there was a suggestion to water plants with run off- my experience was the water had so many concentrated chemicals, it killed my plants-It may depend on your water conditions

Indoors

In the Kitchen

• Wash your dishes in a dishpan and throw dishwater on outside plants when done
• Try using a dishpan to rinse dishes also
• If you must rinse by running the faucet, wash all the dishes, then rinse
• BBQs-put a pan of warm soapy water in the sun, have family/guests put dirty dishes in dishpan, wash, rinse toss water on plants outside
• Waiting for the hot water to do dishes? Fill water jugs to put in fridge
• Run dishwasher only when full
• Use garbage disposal sparingly or not at all-compost
• Use the same glass throughout the day for drinking water
• Pour remaining water in a glass on house plants
• Repair leaky faucets
• When changing water bowls for pets, toss water on outdoor plants
• When filling a pan, bowl or bottle, turn on faucet, stay at the sink, don't walk away and come back later to it overflowing
• When boiling water, set a timer so that you don't forget it and the water boils away

Laundry Room

• Run your laundry hose to a 40 gal. tub, connect hose to the bottom to water plants, do not keep this water for more than 24 hours-Check local codes
• Only run washing machine when there is a full load-adjusting water levels wastes electricity
• Do not pre-wash clothes, fill washer and turn it off for awhile if you need clothes to soak
• If you need an extra rinse cycle, you may be using too much detergent

Bathroom

• Water conserving shower heads are a trade off-The droplets are smaller which cool faster so you may use more hot water hence, more natural gas, electricity or propane
• Try to keep your shower time to 5 minutes or less
• Run water in a cup and dunk toothbrush, then use to rinse
• Hand washing-wet hands turn off water, soap, rinse turn off water