Make simple changes to your daily routine to save water – and money!

In the Bathroom

• Turn off the tap while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• Take shorter showers! Showers generally use less water than baths.

In the Kitchen

• Use the dishwasher. Newer dishwashers are water efficient machines that tend to use less water than washing by hand.
• Make sure that the dishwasher is fully loaded before running it.
• Scrape food from your plate instead of rinsing it, before loading into the dishwasher.
  • If you don’t have a dishwasher make sure to stopper the sink or use a wash basin when washing dishes.
• Use leftover water from rinsing fruits and vegetables, or from half empty glasses (or bottles) of water, to give your houseplants a drink.
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
• Thaw food in the refrigerator, rather than using a running tap of hot water.
• Add food wastes to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal.

In the Laundry Room

• Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
• Upgrade to a water efficient clothes washer, which typically uses half the amount of water of “traditional” top loading washers.
  • Check with your town to see if they offer rebates for water efficient clothes washers.

Outdoors

• Always obey town water restrictions.
• Use pistol-grip nozzles on all hoses and always turn off the faucet tightly to prevent leakage.
• Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps rather than using a hose.
• Wash your car with water from a rain barrel or bucket, or use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
• If you have a pool, use a cover to reduce evaporation when pool is not being used.
• Plan a landscape that uses less water.
• Take steps to reduce lawn irrigation.
  • Pay attention to weather reports and don’t water before a rain event.
  • Don’t overwater. One inch of rain a week is all it takes to keep a lawn green.  The Neponset watershed receives on average, ¾” of rain per week during the summer.
  • Irrigate early morning or late afternoon to prevent evaporation.
  • Avoid watering on windy days. Water evaporates more quickly when it’s windy.
  • Don’t irrigate sidewalks or driveways. Adjust the spray of your irrigation nozzles to make sure that water is being distributed on your lawn.