Water Conservation

In the bathroom

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, shaving and washing your hands (this can save between 60 and 80 per cent of water usage in the bathroom)
• Take shorter showers (reducing shower time from 20 minutes to eight minutes can save up to 360 L of water)
• Use low-flow shower heads (this can save up to 20 L of water per minute)
• Do not use toilets as wastepaper baskets and avoid unnecessary flushing
• Use low-flow toilets (this can save up to 14 L of water per flush)
• Avoid using disinfectants or cleaners that need to be placed in the toilet tank (these can weaken mechanical parts in the tank)
• Check for leaks and drips in sinks and showers regularly, replacing the O-ring to stop leaks

In the kitchen

• Use low-flow aerators on kitchen sink faucets
• Don't leave the water running when washing dishes. Use one sink for washing and one sink for rinsing or place washed dishes in a rack and rinse them all at once
• Clean fruits and vegetables in a partially filled sink, doing a quick rise at the end, instead of using running water
• Steam vegetables on the stove or in the microwave to reduce the amount of cooking water needed
• Keep a lid on the pot when boiling or simmering water to reduce water loss through evaporation
• Catch excess running water in a container for outdoor use or plant watering
• Keep a jug of cold drinking water in the fridge instead of running the tap water to get it cold
• Only run full dishwasher loads
• Don't rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher
• Use the lowest setting on the dishwasher
• Limit use of the garburator
• Check for faucet leaks regularly, replacing the O-ring to stop leaks

In the laundry room

• Consider a front-loading or Energy Star certified washing machine (they use at least 33% less water and 25% less energy)
• Always run a full load of laundry, being careful not to overload your machine
• Be sure to set the water level to the size of the load if it isn't a full load
• Use the shortest washing cycle whenever possible
• Always choose a cold water rinse cycle; only use hot or warm water cycles for very dirty loads or whites

Water heater

• Make sure hot water pipes are well insulated to shorten the time it takes for water to warm up
• Make sure cold water pipes are well insulated to prevent cooling down of hot water pipes
• Consider installing heat traps to stabilize temperature and reduce the time it takes for the water to warm up

Car washing

• Use a hose with a shutoff nozzle
• Spray the car and then use a bucket of soapy water to wash it and rinse when finished (this can save up to 300 L of water per wash)
• Turn off the faucet to your hose when you are finished to avoid water leaking through the nozzle
• Check hoses and connectors for leaks regularly
• Don't hose down your driveway; use a broom instead

Landscaping

• Choose plants that require less water. Native species are often a great option!
• Install a rain barrel to catch and store water running off your roof, for plant watering during dry times
• Use rocks, gravel and deck areas to decorate your yard
• Use drip watering systems around trees and shrubs
• Remove weeds
• Remember that grass will go dormant during a drought and will regenerate when water becomes available, so it's wise to accept a less-than-lush lawn during dry weather
• Match the amount of fertilizer to what's required by your plants. You need extra water for fertilizer applications

Lawn care

• Only water your lawn when it needs it
• Use a rain gauge to figure out when your lawn needs watering (less than 1 inch of rain per week)
• Water your lawn when it is difficult to push a screwdriver into the soil
• Place sprinklers where the water lands on areas that need it (don't water it if it doesn't grow)
• Use a timer to control watering (about an inch of water flows per 30 minutes)
• Water your lawn between 6 and 10 a.m. to prevent water loss through evaporation
• Avoid watering on windy days
• Use soaker hoses to save up to 70 per cent of water usage compared to sprinklers
• Mow your lawn only when it is dry
• Keep mower blades sharp
• Keep your grass length 5 to 8 cm long and never cut more than a third of the grass length
• Leave grass clippings on your lawn after mowing (the clippings contain 50 per cent water and they will fertilize the lawn)

Pools

• Use a pool cover when it is not being used (this can prevent up to 90 per cent of water loss through evaporation)
• Switch to a filter that doesn't require regular back-flushing
• Save back-flushing water for watering lawns, plants, trees and shrubs
• Check for leaks regularly by placing a full bucket of water beside the pool for 24 hours. The water levels should drop at the same rate due to evaporation (you might have a leak if the pool level drops more).