Every Drop Counts:Water conservation tips for this summer

As temperatures rise during the summer months, the season itself can make us feel like it is as dry as the desert. With the recent dry spell, and a long, hot August ahead of us, it’s a good time to consider indoor and outdoor water conservation ideas that can be applied to your home quickly and easily.

Conserving water can be as effortless as turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, and redirecting water that would be otherwise wasted. Something that sounds so simple can actually make a large difference when you consider the fact that up to 4 gallons of water are wasted each time you leave the water running while brushing your teeth. When it comes to conserving water, every drop counts. There are many small ways that you can adjust your life to help conserve water this summer, both indoors and outdoors.

Indoors: 

• Fix leaky faucets and running toilets – even small drips can add up to a large amount of wasted water over a period of time
• Install faucet aerators and water saving showerheads
• Shortening your shower time – even shortening your shower by a minute or two can save up to 150 gallons/month
• Keep drinking water in the fridge - Rather than running the faucet until it is cold to get a drink, keep water in your fridge so you can have pre-chilled water without needing the faucet to run.
• Dishwasher/Laundry - wait for a full load to minimize the number of time you have to run these appliances
• Recycle water in your home – any water from pots, unfinished water glasses and bottles can be used to water plants within your home, avoiding extra water use.
• Defrost food in the fridge overnight – Rather than running water to defrost and thaw food, have your frozen items defrost overnight in the fridge. 

Outdoors: 

• Capture and recycle rainwater from drain spouts – you can redirect this water to watering flowerbeds and gardens, rather than use sprinklers or hoses that can waste a lot of water.
• Minimize the time spent washing car – try to wash with a bucket of water, and only use a hose with a trigger nozzle to rinse
• Don’t overwater your lawn – lawn only needs an inch of water every 5-7 days aka doesn’t need hours of soaking. Try placing a small tuna can by the sprinkler; when the can is full you have one inch and sprinkler can be turned off
• Fix leaky faucets and hoses – ensure that the outdoor faucets and hoses at your home do not leak, allowing extra water to be wasted when not in use.

These are just a few options on how to conserve water inside, and outside your home this summer, but the list is limitless. There are over 100+ ways that you and your family can conserve water. Making small adjustments to our daily lives can make all the difference when every drop counts.