Indoor and Outdoor Water Saving Tips

Approximately only 3 percent of the earth’s water is fresh, and less than 1 percent is available for human consumption. With growing populations causing a continual rise in water demands, using less water and using it wisely has never been more important. The water issue is local as well as global; by implementing a few simple practices you can significantly reduce your water consumption and help to conserve one of your most precious natural resources.

Indoor Water Saving Tips

• Replace older toilets with high efficiency ones.
• Have showers instead of baths.
• Install showerheads that use no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
• When you shower, first wet your body, then turn off the water as you apply soap.  Then turn on the water  to rinse the soap   off again.
• Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth, use water only to rinse and gargle.
• Wash your fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water rather than under a running tap.
• Fix leaky faucets in your kitchen and bathroom.
• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full.

Outdoor Water Saving Tips

• When you water your yard, use more water to go deeper each time so that you do not have to water the yard as often.
• Use drip irrigation in your backyard if possible.
• Select plants that adapt to a Mediterranean climate.
• Apply mulch to gardens to maintain moisture in the soil.

• Adjust your sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
• Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.