Water Conservation

Regulate & Reduce
This page is dedicated to providing residents information about water usage and conservation actions they can take to help regulate their utility bills and reduce wasteful use of this resource.

Water Use Habits

Usage	Typical Usage	Good Water Saving Habits
Showering	20-40 Gallons (5 gallons per minute)	5 Gallons (wet down, soap up, rinse off)
Tub Bathing	36 Gallons (full)	10-12 Gallons (low-level)
Toilet Flushing	6 Gallons	3-5 Gallons (tank-displacement or half-flush-device)
Teeth Brushing	2 Gallons (faucet running)	1 Pint (wet brush, rinse briefly)
Hand Washing	2 Gallons (faucet running)	1 Gallon (fill basin, rinse briefly)
Shaving	3-5 Gallons (faucet running)	1 Gallon (fill basin, rinse briefly)
Dish Washing	20 Gallons (full cycle)	5 Gallons (wash, rinse in pans or sink
Automatic Dishwasher	15 Gallons (full cycle)	Do only full loads
Washing Machine	40-60 Gallons (full cycle)	Do only full loads
Outdoor Watering	5-10 Gallons (per minute)	Be sensible, seek local lawn / garden expert advice (Extension Service)

Ways To Save Water
In the Bathroom

• Use a displacement device (a water-filled plastic bottle or bag) in the toilet tank to reduce the amount of water required to flush.
• Use the toilet only for its intended purpose, not for the disposal of tissue or trash.
• Be alert for leaky toilets or faucets and repair them immediately. A slow drip wastes 15 to 20 gallons of water a day. A leaking toilet wastes hundreds of gallons of water a day.
• When installing a new toilet, consider a small-capacity model. They're usually less expensive and cut down significantly on the amount of water used.
• Take shorter showers. Get wet, turn off the water, lather up, then turn on the water to rinse. Showers require less water than tub baths. Every inch in the tub equals approximately five gallons.
• Up to five gallons a minute goes straight down the drain when taps are left running to shave or brush teeth. Turn on the taps only when needed.

In the Kitchen

• When washing dishes by hand, fill a basin or use a stopper in the sink for rinsing rather than running the faucet.
• Automatic dishwashers use 12 to 25 gallons for each cycle, so avoid using the "rinse only" cycle and washing small loads.
• Avoid running the faucet for a glass of water. Put a bottle or pitcher of water in the refrigerator.
• Since washing machines require 40 gallons or more, save water by washing only full loads.

Outdoors

• Use buckets and tubs to wash your car or the dog, rather than running the hose continuously.
• Water lawns and gardens only when needed and only during the early morning or evening when evaporation is lower.
• A garden hose will dispense up to 600 gallons in two hours. A nozzle will act as a flow restrictor and reduce water use.
• Cutting grass at a two to three inch height instead of cropping is closely will reduce the amount of water needed.
• Sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of washing them down with a hose.
• Re-use as much water as possible.