Water Conservation Tips

Faucets

Does your faucet drip? That drip is costing you money:

• 60 drops per minute = 192 gallons per month
• 90 drops per minute = 310 gallons per month
• 120 drops per minute = 429 gallons per month

Fix your leaky faucets to conserve water and save money.

Washing Machines

Think about purchasing a new washing machine. Old washers average 40.9 gallons per load. Higher efficiency models use 24.3 gallons per load.

Remember to follow the Water Conservation Policy’s lawn sprinkling schedule.

Resources

• Home Conservation Tips
• Water Smart Landscape Design Tips
• EPA Water Sense Fix A Leak Week
• AWE Water Conservation Tips
• AWE Water Calculator
• Water Sense - kids pages with fun ways to save water, games and teacher resources
• Water Conservation
• Education Lesson Plans - Water Use it Wisely
• The Water Conservation Guide
• Water Conservation Tips
• A Student's Guide to Conservation & Environmental Science
• Water Pollution - How Humans Impact the Water Cycle

How to Detect a Water Leak

- Turn off all water sources, i.e. faucets, washing machines, dishwasher, ice makers, etc.

- After verifying both indoor and outdoor water sources are off. Check the meter; which is usually in the basement, to see if the red indicator is spinning. Be sure to observe the leak indicator for at least 4 - 5 minutes for movement.

- If the red indicator is spinning, there is possibly a leak.

To check for a toilet leak:

- Remove the cover from the toilet tank. Look inside the tank to see if there is any water dripping or running into the overflow tube. 

- Place a dye tablet, available at City Hall, the Library, or the Utility Department, into the tank. Do not flush the toilet after placing the dye tablet into the tank.

- Wait 20 - 30 minutes

- If color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak and need to make repairs.

Effective Strategies for Saving Water: