Indoor
Water
Conservation
Tips
The
average
Southwest
Floridian
uses
about
100
gallons
of
water
a
day
for
personal
needs.
Two-thirds
of
it
is
used
in
the
bathroom.
Toilets
account
for
40
percent
of
indoor
water
use,
and
showers
and
baths
consume
another
30
percent.
Washing
machines
and
dishwashers
take
15
percent.
Ongoing
toilet,
faucet
and
other
leaks
can
as
much
as
double
your
water
and
wastewater
charges.
Here’s
how
you
immediately
can
cut
your
water
and
wastewater
bill:
Detect & Repair
Leaks
- Turn
off
everything
that
uses
water
in
your
home,
and
then
check
your
water
meter
dial
for
15
minutes.
If
the
triangular
knob
remains
still,
you
are
watertight!
If
it's
moving,
look
for
leaks.
- Fix
leaks
in
toilets,
faucets,
showerheads
and
plumbing
fixtures.
Use
food
coloring
to "dye" the
water
in
your
toilet
tank
to
help
detect
leaks.
- Check
the
condition
of
water
shut-off
valves
used
for
repairs
and
emergencies.
Install
Water-Saving
Devices
- Insert
a
water-filled
bottle
in
older
toilet
tanks
to
displace
space
and
reduce
the
gallons
flushed.
- Retrofit
sink
faucets
with
aerators
to
reduce
wasteful
water
flow.
- Update
your
bathrooms
with
low-flow
showerheads
and
toilets.
- Install
air-to-air
heat
pumps
and
air-conditioning
systems
that
don't
use
water.
Economize
- If
water
is
running
too
hot
or
too
cold,
turn
the
offending
temperature
down
instead
of
turning
the
opposite
temperature
up.
- Run
only
full
loads
in
the
washing
machine,
and
use
proper
fill
levels.
- Hand
wash
dishes
in
one
sink
of
water
and
rinse
in
a
second
to
eliminate
running
water.
- Thaw
foods
in
a
microwave
or
pan
of
water,
not
under
running
water.
- Compost
food
waste
instead
of
using
a
garbage
disposal.
- Use
the
minimum
amount
of
detergent
required
for
any
job,
allowing
heavily
soiled
items
to
presoak.
Natural
detergents
are
best.
- Choose
a
sponge
mop
and
pail,
not
a
string
mop
and
running
water.
- Keep
a
soft
water
tank's
regenerating
cycles
to
a
minimum.
Turn
it
off
during
vacation.
Reuse
Water
- Save
cooking
water
for
nutritious
soup
stock,
or
use
it
to
nourish
your
houseplants.
- Pour
old
fish
tank
water
on
your
garden.
Plants
thrive
on
the
nutrients.
- Reuse
bathing
water
for
heavy
cleaning
jobs.
[top]
Outdoor
Water
Conservation
Tips
 Most
people
in
Southwest
Florida
use
too
much
water
on
their
lawns.
At
least
half
the
water
used
in
a
typical
home
is
used
to
keep
the
grass
green.
Studies
show
that
watering
your
lawn
just
80
times
a
year,
instead
of
the
usual
150,
will
save
thousands
of
gallons
while
maintaining
healthy
turf.
Here’s
how
you
immediately
can
cut
your
water
and
wastewater
bill:
Detect & Repair
Leaks
- Turn
off
everything
that
uses
water
in
your
home,
and
check
your
water
meter
dial
for
15
minutes.
If
the
triangular
knob
remains
still,
you
are
watertight!
If
it's
moving,
look
for
leaks.
- Fix
leaks
in
sprinkler
lines,
hose
connections
and
pool
systems.
Install
Water-Saving
Devices
- Use
short
on/off
sprinkler
cycles
to
allow
landscaping
to
absorb
the
water.
Set
for
large
drops
dispersed
low
to
the
ground,
not
high-flying
mists.
Water
roots
rather
than
leaves.
- Use
efficient
drip
irrigation
and
soaker
hoses,
which
can
save
from
20
to
50
percent
of
the
water
needed
to
keep
plants
thriving.
Keep
lines
and
filters
clean.
- Install
a
new
water-saving
filter
for
your
swimming
pool.
Economize
- Use
a
moisture
indicator
to
tell
when
lawn
needs
water.
- Water
only
when
necessary,
when
grass
shows
signs
of
stress,
such
as
folded
blades,
different
color
spots
and
lingering
footprints.
Professionals
suggest
watering
once
every
five
to
seven
days
in
summer,
and
every
10
to
14
days
in
winter.
One
good
rain
can
eliminate
the
need
for
watering
for
up
to
two
weeks.
Over-watering
is
unhealthy.
- Group
plants
in "zones" that
have
similar
water
needs.
Plant
native
and
drought-tolerant
grasses,
ground
covers,
shrubs
and
trees
to
save
as
much
as
30
to
60
percent
of
your
water
bill.
- Shut
off
automatic
sprinklers
during
the
rainy
season.
Manually
monitor
them
at
other
times.
Rain
sensors,
now
required
by
law,
automatically
will
override
the
usual
watering
cycle
when
adequate
rainfall
is
present.
- Check
periodically
that
timers
are
working
properly.
Set
an
indoor
timer
to
remind
you
if
you
left
outdoor
water
on.
- Raise
your
lawnmower
blade
to
three
inches
or
more
to
protect
the
grass.
- Apply
slow-release
fertilizers
with
water-insoluble
nitrogen,
and
use
them
less
often.
- Dig
trenches
around
plants
to
catch
water.
- Mulch
controls
water-hungry
weeds
and
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