Indoor Tips
No Cost – Easy to Do
| Water Efficiency Tip | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Avoid using running water to thaw frozen foods. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| Scrape dirty dishes instead of rinsing them before washing. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water instead of in running water. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| Keep drinking water in your refrigerator to avoid wasteful running of tap water to cool it off. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| Run the dishwasher only when full. | 2-4.5 gallons/load |
| Don’t leave water running when rinsing dishes. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| Turn off water when brushing teeth. | 2 gallons/minute |
| Shorten showers. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket. | 1.6 gallons/flush |
| Wash only full loads of clothes. | 15–50 gallons/load |
Low Cost – More Effort Required
| Water Efficiency Tip | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Fix leaky toilets. | 30–50 gallons/day/toilet |
| Fix leaky faucets. | 15–20 gallons/day/leak |
| Install aerators with flow restrictors on kitchen/bathroom faucets. | 4.7 gallons/day |
Higher Cost – Most Effort Required
| Water Efficiency Tip | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Install an instant hot water recirculating system or device. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| Replace older, inefficient clothes washers.* | 20–30 gallons/load |
| Upgrade to high-efficiency toilets.* | 0.3–3.8 gallons/fl ush |
| Install a water-efficient dishwasher. | 4.25 gallons/cycle |
*Rebates may be available.
Outdoor Tips – Landscape Irrigation
No Cost – Easy to Do
| Water Efficiency Tip | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Water only in the late evening or early morning hours 20–25 gallons/day to reduce evaporation and interference from wind. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| Don’t overwater!
Turn off irrigation systems before rainstorms and leave them off for as long as possible after. Water only after the top 1 inch of soil is dry. Program your irrigation controller to run based on local water agency restrictions. For information about local restrictions, go to WheninDrought.org. | 15–25 gallons/minute; up to 250 gallons/cycle |
| Adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and runoff. | 15–25 gallons/day |
Low Cost – More Effort Required
| Water Efficiency Tip | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Repair leaks and broken sprinkler nozzles.* | 10 gallons/minute/leak |
| Add 2” to 3” of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation. | 20–30 gal./day/1,000 sq. ft. |
| Install rain barrels.* | varies |
Higher Cost – Most Effort Required
| Water Efficiency Tip | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Install a graywater system to help irrigate your landscape. | 16 gallons/load |
| Install water-efficient drip irrigation system for trees, shrubs, and flowers to get water to plant roots more efficiently. | 20–25 gallons/day |
| Upgrade to a “smart irrigation controller” that automatically adjusts watering times based on weather conditions.* | 40 gallons/day |
| Replace your lawn and upgrade to WaterSmart landscape.* | up to 44 gallons/sq. ft. annually depending on climate |
*Rebates may be available.
Other Outdoor Ideas
No Cost – Easy to Do
| Water Efficiency Tip | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. | 8–18 gallons/minute |
| Collect warm-up shower water in a bucket and use to water plants. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| When you give pets fresh water, use old water on your landscape. | 2.5 gallons/minute |
| Adjust your pressure reducer (if you have one) to keep pressure between 40 and 60 p.s.i. | Varies |
| While washing your car, use a self-closing nozzle for your hose. | 8–18 gallons/minute |
| Patronize car washes that recycle water. | 15-32 gallons/wash |
Low Cost – More Effort Required
| Water Efficiency Tip | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Fix leaky meters. | up to 1000s of gallons |
| Repair any leaks around pool and spa pumps. | 20 gallons/day/leak |
| Repair leaking hose bibs. | 15–20 gal./day/leak |
Higher Cost – Most Effort Required
| Water Efficiency Tip | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Install covers on pools and spas to reduce evaporation. | 30 gallons per day |
| Install a pressure reducer if your pressure is greater than 80 p.s.i. | Varies |
*Rebates may be available.
Click here for a Water Footprint Calculator that takes individualized input by homeowners and shows which of their water uses are efficient and which are not.
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